How can old refrigerators harm the environment

But industry experts say these harmful refrigerants are still widespread and increasing rapidly due to a global surge in demand for air conditioning , sluggish innovation from industry and inadequate legislation around their disposal.

All around the world, the demand for air conditioning is growing as temperatures rise and people become wealthier, according to the International Energy Agency IEA. Recent heatwaves in Europe have also driven sales of air conditioning in areas where they were previously uncommon. The number of global cooling devices is estimated to increase from 3.

Providing cooling to everyone who needs it, and not just those who can afford it, will require 14 billion devices by , the report notes. There are ways to cool a home without the need for air conditioning.

Traditional approaches use water features such as fountains to help cool the air passing through a building, while others use careful design to encourage natural air circulation. Even simple approaches like placing an earthenware pot of water near a window or drafty spot can help to cool a room by a few of degrees.

Read more about how to cool your home without AC. Part of the problem with refrigerants, however, is that much of the harm they cause is after we as consumers have finished using them. It occurs out of sight, and so largely out of mind.

This means that proper disposal is essential. If the refrigerant chemicals are carefully extracted and stored, they can be purified for reuse or turned into other substances that do not cause global warming.

Proper management and reuse of potent refrigerant gases could slash billion gigatons of global CO2 emissions between and , according to the EIA. The most common HFC found in domestic fridges is HFCa, which has a global warming potential 3, times that of carbon dioxide. A typical fridge can contain between 0. Consumers looking to get rid of their old fridge, freezer or air conditioning unit in a responsible fashion have a number of options open to them. In the US, old appliances can be disposed of through schemes approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Many local authorities will pick up and recycle old appliances, while manufacturers and retailers of new devices often offer to take away the old item. Efforts to phase out HFCs in the US have been added to the recent energy innovation bill that is currently going through the Senate. In the European Union, legislation already requires HFC gases to be recovered at end of life to prevent them from leaking into the atmosphere. If your fridge breaks in the UK, for example, you are required to take it to a licensed waste facility where a technician removes the gas.

There are signs that the U. The EPA increased the amount of hydrocarbon refrigerants allowed in home fridges, after an assessment of flammability risks. As the U. The organization has urged manufacturers to remove plastic-backed fridges from the market that can accelerate the spread of fire. We have options with very environmentally friendly refrigerants. Updated May 1, Updated to include information about Washington passing its legislation, as well as information about the EPA increasing the amount of hydrocarbon refrigerants and information on hydrocarbon flammability.

Members of the organising committee celebrate the adoption of the Kigali Amendment on October 15, in Kigali. The world community agreed today to phase out a category of dangerous greenhouse gases widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

The UN wants your air conditioning to stop heating up the planet. With Tesla bleeding money, Elon Musk initiates hardcore spending review. The 53 best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now. The 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Currently manufactured refrigerators do not present this problem. The insulation gas now used is cyclopentane which has no effect on ozone depletion and has a negligible global warming effect.

CFCs as refrigerants were replaced in the s by HFCs hydrofluorocarbons which do not damage the ozone layer but still contribute to the greenhouse effect. Some manufacturers are now switching to isobutane as refrigerant, because like cyclopentane, it has a minimal impact on the environment. Given that millions and millions of discarded fridges are stockpiled around the world, the problem associated with the CFC content of their polyurethane foam insulation is not a trivial one.

Enter your keywords. Improperly handled refrigerant may result in physical harm. Only properly trained individuals using EPA-approved refrigerant recovery equipment should attempt to remove refrigerant from appliances.

For example, your municipal public works department may provide free collection of refrigerant-containing appliances or there may be a fee for this service, which may vary by appliance type. When disposing of a refrigerated appliance, inquire about the disposal practices of the entity removing your unit to ensure that it will be disposed of responsibly.

If you learn about illegal or suspect activities e. RAD Partners ensure the proper handling of refrigerant and other hazardous components regulated by federal laws, and foam blowing agents. Technicians removing refrigerant from small appliances in the waste stream are not required to be Section certified.

Hazardous components, including PCBs and mercury, and compressor oil, must be removed from appliances before disposal in accordance with 40 CFR Parts , , However, the treatment of ODS-containing foam is not regulated.

The final disposer of appliances is responsible for recovering any refrigerant contained in appliances. If the enterprise that recovers the refrigerant is not also the final disposer of the appliance, EPA requires a signed statement containing the name and address of the person who recovered the refrigerant, and the date that the refrigerant was recovered.

Please note that no sticker is required for disposal. Despite these regulations, illegal activities e. Appliance owners should avoid illegal dumping and dispose of appliances responsibly. To the extent possible, schedule the collection of your appliance with your Department of Public Works, a retailer, bounty program, or other recycler.

Appliances left curb-side might be picked up by peddlers who may improperly vent refrigerant or otherwise dispose of the appliance in an unsafe manner.

Skip to main content.