These FAQs are designed to address the issues related to
ozone depleting substances within waste refrigeration
equipment, and are not intended to provide a comprehensive
review of EC Regulation 2037/2000.
If you require further information on the application of
the Regulation to the manufacture, supply and use of
controlled ODS please consult:
What fridges and freezers are covered by the
Regulation?
Council Regulation No 2037/2000 on Ozone Depleting
Substances (ODS), covers fridges and freezers which contain
CFCs and/or HCFCs either in the refrigerant of the cooling
system or as a blowing agent in the insulating foam.
Many manufacturers stopped using CFCs as refrigerant in
the mid-1990's but HCFCs continued to be used as a blowing
agent for the insulating foam for several years after. For
this reason the majority of refrigerators currently
entering the waste stream will require treatment.
What fridges and freezers are not covered by the
Regulation?
Refrigerators that do not contain CFCs or HCFCs in
either the refrigerant or the foam do not require
treatment. Refrigerators that have documentation to
demonstrate they do not contain CFCs or HCFCs may be
disposed of via normal routes in the same way as they would
have been dealt with before the regulation came into
force.
How many fridges are disposed of or recycled every
year?
It is estimated that up to 3 million domestic
refrigeration (fridges, fridge-freezers and freezers) units
are disposed of in the UK each year (including an estimated
225,000 in Scotland). Although there is less data
available, it is believed that around a further half
million commercial units are also replaced annually.
What ozone depleting substances
are covered by the Regulation?The new EC Regulation affects the supply and use of all
ozone depleting substances. These substances are mainly
used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, foam blowing, as
solvents and in fire fighting. The substances covered
include: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
What part of the fridge contains ODS?
Refrigerants may be found in the circulating coolant
system of a fridge. In addition they may have been used as
a blowing agent for the polyurethane foam used to insulate
the unit.
What requirements are there to remove ODS from
refrigeration equipment?
Controlled substances should be recovered for
destruction, or for recycling or reclamation during the
servicing and maintenance of equipment, or before the
dismantling or final disposal of equipment.
For fridges and freezers this applies to any controlled
ODS used as the refrigerant and/or the blowing agent (in
the insulation foam). As the insulation foam is integral
to units specialised facilities to extract ODS from the
foam are necessary.
How can I tell if a fridge/freezer contains ozone
depleting substances?
The age of the appliance is in general an important
determinant:
- prior to 1994 almost all appliances used CFCs as
both refrigerant (CFC R12) and as foam blowing agent
(CFC R11);
- after 1994 these were mainly replaced with HFC as
refrigerant (R134a) and HCFC foam blowing agent (R141b
or R142b/R22);
- modern fridges are generally manufactured using HFC
(R134a) or hydrocarbon (HC600a) refrigerants and
hydrocarbon blowing agents.
Most fridges are also marked with an 'appliance rating
plate' - a metal plate or sticky label which is found on
the back of the appliance. The plate contains information
about the appliance, for example model and serial number.
In most cases it will also state what refrigerant was used
in the appliance. Fridges that are marked with R12 or
R134a on the plate will most probably have CFC or HCFC in
the insulation foam and should be treated accordingly,
unless there is evidence to suggest otherwise.
What about units which have been
refurbished/serviced?
Where a refrigerator unit has been refurbished since
1994 it is likely that the ODS refrigerant will have been
removed and replaced by a non-CFC alternative. This should
be recorded on the maintenance record of the appliance.
However such appliances will probably contain CFC in the
insulating foam and should be disposed of accordingly.
Can I still refurbish and sell refrigeration equipment
that contains CFCs?
Yes, assuming that fridges have been shown to be
manufactured before the entry into force of the Regulation
(30 September 2000). This only applies to sales of units
within the EU. If the unit requires servicing including
removal of CFC refrigerant, then it cannot be refilled with
CFCs - an alternative refrigerant must be used.
Can refrigerators be exported for re-use overseas?
The Regulation places a general ban on the export of
used, recycled and reclaimed ozone-depleting substances to
countries outside the European Union. They also prohibit
the export of products and equipment containing CFCs or
whose continuing function relies on supply of CFCs.
Prospective exporters must satisfy themselves that any
equipment to be exported contains no CFCs (including in the
insulation foam as of 1 January 2002).
- Exports of refrigeration equipment containing
HCFCs, to any State not Party to the Montreal Protocol,
shall be prohibited from 1 January 2004;
- Exports to Parties to the Montreal Protocol may
continue until 31 December 2009.
Can waste fridges and freezers still be recycled?
Yes. However, the UK currently has no facilities
capable of extracting CFCs from insulation foam before the
refrigerators are recycled, although there are a number of
companies that are keen to invest in plant. As no
facilities will be on-line by 1 January 2002, Defra are
developing guidance for the storage of these units until
the necessary facilities come on-line (see separate
question on storage, below).
There will now be a cost associated with the recycling
of waste refrigeration equipment. Although, local
authorities are obliged to accept refrigerators or freezers
from households at a civic amenity site free-of-charge.
Local authorities are also obliged to provide a collection
service for bulky household items, although they can charge
for a collection cost.
Units can be exported to other Member States for
recycling, although capacity on the continent may be
limited.
What about commercial refrigeration equipment?
Commercial refrigeration equipment is subject to the
same provisions as domestic equipment, i.e. all ODS must be
removed before scrapping of the units. Local authorities
are not obliged to take commercial waste. Commercial
traders will therefore need to identify storage facilities
for their units pending treatment. Guidance for the
storage of units has now been released and can be found in
the link below.
Can I export waste refrigeration equipment for
processing in other Member States?
Exports of waste, to other Member States, destined for
recovery operations are permitted. However, we understand
that there may be limited capacity for receiving units on
the continent.