Carbon Collectors Refrigerant Recovery are proud to announce that they recently commenced operations in South East QLD at 2 major Waste Transfer Stations on the Gold Coast, in conjunction with the successful tenderer for the Gold Coast City Council waste recycling program.

Over a 4 day period, 190 refrigerated end-of-life appliances were checked and out of that amount 132 had the refrigerant charge recovered for a total of 21 Kilograms recovered refrigerant. That’s not much you may say but “Every Little Bit Counts” and it’s not a bad start, giving a true indication of the potential to removes tonnes of this refrigerant gas from our atmosphere, right now and into the future.

Jon Morgan, the Managing Director of Carbon Collectors P/L Refrigerant Recovery reported it was pleasing that most of the end-of-life appliances they checked still had the refrigerant charge inside, allowing it to be recovered, however we can all do better when handling and transporting these appliances to ensure that the refrigerant gas can be recovered safely and effectively before they are crushed and recycled.
“The common refrigerants were recovered, with CFC R12, one of the most damaging gases for our Ozone Layer featuring prominently amongst the old “beer” fridges which have been discarded first, to the shed and then to the tip. The fact they are rarely moved from their resting places means that the refrigerant is likely still present in the system when they are thrown out. We recovered 7.4Kg of CFC R12, 5.5Kg of HFC R134a and 8.2Kg of HCFC R22, which is normally found in older box type or split airconditioning systems, a pleasing and lasting result for the environment.”
If you are not sure what type of refrigerant is in your old fridge or freezer and you would like to identify it before moving it, there is normally a sticker on the back of the fridge indicating the refrigerant type. If it contains CFC R12 it would normally have a Yellow Sticker as in the photo below and you should definitely arrange to have the refrigerant recovered before transporting and disposing of the appliance.
If it contains HFC R134a refrigerant then it would also have an indicating sticker located on the compressor or the rear of the appliance, it can also be found on the identification plate inside the appliance. HFC R134a is a Synthetic Greenhouse Gas which is known to contribute to Global Warming. Every kilogram of R134a refrigerant released to the atmosphere has the potential to expand to 2 tonnes of CO2 ,and the average charge in an appliance would be approx 200 grams.

HC R600a is a Hydrocarbon and therefore classified as a flammable refrigerant. It has been widely use and available to the public for a few years now and is most commonly found in smaller bar fridges sold through the retailers. Hydrocarbon is classed as a Natural Refrigerant,  being a refined by-product of LPG, which has a Zero ODP and Zero GWP rating and therefore it is not subject to the laws that apply to Flourinated Refrigerants, which means that it is not essential that it be recovered. Care must be taken when handling and transporting these appliances to ensure there is no accidental release which may in turn cause an explosive atmosphere around the handlers. Any type of ignition source could ignite this refrigerant, particularly in a confined space.

If you are not sure what is in your appliance and would like to do the right thing before discarding it to waste, Carbon Collectors Refrigerant Recovery can arrange to attend your premises, identify the refrigerant and safely recover it, or even better we can remove the whole appliance if you prefer not to handle and transport it yourself, which most people don’t!
“We are excited at the prospects which lay ahead in regards to refrigerant recovery from end-of –life equipment, the aim is to Educate and Enable the Public, Businesses, Government, Corporations all around Australia to stress the importance that ‘Every Little Bit Counts’ when considering disposal of your end-of-life refrigerated equipment, our aim is to have Carbon Collectors Refrigerant Recovery Licencees established all around this big country of ours, enabling affordable and accessible refrigerant recovery for everyone that wants to do their bit.

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.

Ozone is an extremely rare gas in the atmosphere and is essential to life as we know it. 90% of the ozone gases exist in the stratosphere located approx. 20 km’s above the Earths. It absorbs most of the harmful Ultra-Violet-B Radiation from the Sun and completely blocks out lethal UV-C Radiation.

Depleting Ozone leads to more harmful radiation reaching Earths’ surface, resulting in increased human cancers and immune deficiency, damage to crops reducing plant yields, damage to ocean eco-systems, reduced fishing yields and adverse effects on animals.

Ozone depletion results in thinning of the ozone layer with the appearance of a “hole” at the North Pole, Antarctic region. Low temperature polar vortex clouds formed in the stratosphere at (-78⁰C), comprise of tiny particles of frozen water vapour, nitrogen, nitrogen oxides. These clouds act as reservoirs of Chlorine held by inactive compounds such as Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrochloric Acid and Chlorine Nitrate, which alone do not react with ozone.

Key conditions for ozone destruction are extreme cold + still air + Chlorine + UV Radiation. The coming of Spring brings the Sun and the ensuing UV Radiation encounters these clouds, catalysing reactions on their surfaces and converting the inactive compounds into reactive Chlorine Monoxide which attacks and destroys the ozone layer at an estimated rate of 1% per day.

Ozone hole and depletion results from emitted CFC’s, HCFC’s, Halons, Methyl Bromide and other ODS released to atmosphere. ODP reflects a combination of % weight of Chlorine atoms and the lifetime of the compound in the atmosphere or Estimated Atmospheric Life. The ozone layer has steadily weakened since measurements began in the early 80’s.

SOURCE: Refrigerant Reclaim Australia – 2010 Audit Figures:

• Approximately 800,000 motor vehicles are disposed of annually. Assume that 70% have airconditioning fitted with an average refrigerant charge of 800 grams. If half of this amount is available for recovery at End-of-Life then 190 tonnes should be available for recovery.

• Approximately 8 million airconditioning systems are installed in Australia with an average refrigerant charge of 1.6Kg and an annual estimated leakage rate of 3%. Assume a 12 year life span of this equipment then 680 tonnes of ODS and SGG refrigerants should be available for recovery.

• The amount of refrigerant available for recovery from other refrigeration and airconditioning plant and equipment is estimated at 300 tonnes per annum, based on a 15 year lifespan and assuming 2/3 of the refrigerant charge being present when decommissioned at End –of-Life.

• Bulk refrigerant sold in 2010 = 4600 tonnes; OEM = 600 tonnes, New Installations = 1400 tonnes, Auto Service = 900 tonnes, Comm/Ind/Dom Service = 1700 tonnes.

• Refrigerant Available for Recovery from End-of-Life Equipment = 1380 tonnes. Automotive = 400 tonnes, Airconditioning = 680 tonnes, Commercial = 300 tonnes.

It is estimated that between 300 – 865 tonnes of refrigerant is not being recovered and returned for destruction from End-of-Life Equipment.

The Earth is surrounded by a thin layer of gases which form the atmosphere. The composition of our atmosphere distinguishes the Earth from other planets in our Solar System and creates the conditions which are necessary for diversity of life in our oceans and Earths’ surface.

Greenhouse Gases have the potential to increase Earths average temperature by trapping the heat that normally radiates back into space. High concentrations of Greenhouse Gases create the potential for Global Warming, ultimately changing the Earths’ climate.

The composition of these gases has altered over geological time with such changes usually taking thousands of years. Human intervention over the past 200 years has measurably altered this composition through the increased emission of Greenhouse Gases into our atmosphere.

Since pre-industrial times the three main Greenhouse gases have increased dramatically. Carbon Dioxide has increased by approximately 25%, Methane by 145%, Nitrous Oxide by 15%.  Global Warming Potentials are used to compare the impact on the climate system of emission of differing Greenhouse Gases.

The GWP index is relative to Carbon Dioxide (CO²) and a time horizon of 20-100 years. Synthetic Greenhouse Gases are classified and priced according to their Global Warming Potential.  ie. The Carbon Equivalent when released to the atmosphere, and their Estimated Atmospheric Life.

FACTS: Refrigerant HFC R410a has been the refrigerant of choice by most Airconditioning Manufacturers in the past 10 years following the decision to phase out HCFC R22 refrigerant, due to its’ high ODP and GWP.                                                                                    

1Kg of HFC R410a Synthetic Greenhouse Gas has the Carbon Equivalent of 2 tonnes when released to the atmosphere.

The common refrigerant gas HFC R134a which is found in most refrigerators, freezers and vehicle A/C systems has a GWP of 1300.

The phasing out of Ozone Depleting Substances (CFC’s and HCFC’s) means we are avoiding Greenhouse Gas emissions the equivalent of around 10 gigatonnes of CO² annually, as many ODP’s are classified as potent Greenhouse Gases.