Carbon Collectors Fact Sheet

Facts about Common Refrigerants and Refrigerant Recovery in Australia.

1. Figures recently released for the Refrigeration and Airconditioning Industry in Australia for 2012 once again prove that the Industry is a major player in the economy. Cold Hard Facts 2 was published by The Department of the Environment and reports the following findings;

• $5.9 billion spent on purchasing and installing new refrigerated equipment.
• $533 million spent on purchasing refrigerant gases.
• 43,000 tonnes of Synthetic Greenhouse gases in use equates to 89% of all refrigerant gases in use in Australia.
• 4,800 tonnes of Low Global Warming Potential refrigerant gases in use.

Synthetic Greenhouse Gases (SGG) bulk import figures for 2012 report that HFC134a – (46%) and HFC410A – (22%) the two most common refrigerants in use for airconditioning and refrigeration, account for 68% of bulk imports into Australia.

The Australian Government are signatories to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which sets out a mandatory timeframe for the phase out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and urges additional action to minimise damage to the Ozone Layer including all imports to Australia of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) such as the common refrigerant R22 by 2016.

It is expected that reclamation and recycling of refrigerant will become an increasingly important source of R22, although it will continue to be available, the quantity of new R22 is reducing and all HCFCs in use will need to be recovered and destroyed over time.

Carbon Equivalent Pricing was introduced in 2012 as part of the Clean Energy Future to encourage the Refrigeration and Airconditioning Industry to transition to low GWP refrigerant gases or Natural Refrigerants.

Since the introduction of Carbon Equivalent Pricing the HVAC/R Industry has been actively changing its practices to reduce emissions of SGGs, using alternative refrigerants and improving the recovery and recycling rates of ODS and SGG refrigerants.

Refrigeration and Airconditioning Technicians and Contractors are at the frontline of refrigerant recovery. For over 20 years they have playing a significant role by directly influencing the collection and destruction of waste refrigerant SGGs and ODS in the Industries efforts to reduce emissions.

There are Acts, Regulations, Legislation, Conditions and Codes of Practice that make it illegal to deliberately release SGG and ODS refrigerants to the atmosphere. Fines and penalties may apply to individuals and corporations who knowingly and deliberately release refrigerant gases into the atmosphere, either directly or indirectly.

Following public consultation on the Destruction Incentives Program, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities focus has been on increasing compliance and the enforcement of regulations and licence conditions.