Used Refrigerants
Auto Body Shops
Pollution Prevention Guide
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Refrigerants containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), such as CFC-12, are suspected
of contributing to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. The stratospheric
ozone layer acts as a blanket in the stratosphere that protects the planet from
harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. For this reason, CFC-containing
refrigerant production has been phased out. The release of refrigerants during
the servicing of air conditioners is also prohibited. Service shops must use
refrigerant recycling equipment to work on vehicle air conditioners.
To help protect the environment:
- Service motor vehicle air conditions appropriately
- Use a less hazardous alternative
Servicing Motor Vehicle Air
Conditioners
To help prevent the release of CFC-containing refrigerants and their less
hazardous substitutes into the environment during air conditioning servicing:
- Use United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved
refrigerant reclaiming units.
- Technicians repairing or servicing air conditioning systems must
be trained and certified by an EPA-approved organization to use approved
equipment.
- Check for and repair leaks in air conditioning systems
prior to recharging.
- Recover the used refrigerant and recycle it on-site or
ship it to an off-site reclamation facility.
Alternative Refrigerants
There are a number of viable substitutes for CFC-12 refrigerants, such as
HFC-134a (hydrofluorcarbon), on the market today. Note that other than HFC-134a,
all EPA-accepted refrigerant substitutes are blends that contain ozone-depleting
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), such as R-22. Review the Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS) of the alternative you are interested in -- avoid it if it contains
CFCs or HCFC.
Before switching over to an alternative refrigerant, make sure it is an EPA-approved
refrigerant and has been approved by the vehicle or air conditioner or manufacturer.
You will probably have to modify the vehicle's air conditioning system before
you can use an alternative refrigerant. If you have CFC-12 recovery and/or recycling
equipment, you will also have to convert the equipment to handle the substitute
refrigerant.
The following series of questions will help you develop ways of preventing
pollution in used refrigerant management:
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Used Refrigerants
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NO
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| 1) Do you provide air conditioning service? If so,
you should be EPA-trained to use EPA-approved recovery and/or recycling
equipment in order to reduce the possibility of a refrigerant release. |
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| 2) Do you keep different types of refrigerants separate?
Do not mix refrigerants. The newer alternative refrigerants are not
compatible with the older refrigerants and equipment. Commingling refrigerants
could render the system inoperable |
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| 3) Are air conditioning systems first checked for leaks before
recharging? It has never been good business practice to add
coolant to a leaking air conditioning system. Deny requests for refrigerant
recharging if customers will not allow you to check their vehicle's cooling
system. |
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| 4) Do you recover and/or recycle spent refrigerants?
Widespread refrigerant recycling reduces the demand for virgin CFC-12
and thus extends the time that it will be available. There are EPA-approved
recovery and recycling (removes and recycles) and recovery-only (removes
and stores) equipment available. |
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| 5) Do you keep records of any air conditioning services done in
your shop? Auto body shops must certify to EPA that they own
approved equipment. If refrigerant is recovered and sent to a reclamation
facility, the name and address of that facility must be retained. |
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| 6) Are you prepared to use the alternative refrigerants?
Most new cars come with HFC-134a. However, before older cars can be
retrofitted to use substitutes, check with the vehicle or air conditioner
manufacturer. |
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| 7) Do you dispose of your used coolant recycler filters as hazardous
waste? Prior to disposal, contact your supplier to see if used
filters are recyclable in your area. If not, they must be disposed of properly.
If they prove to be hazardous, they must be disposed as a hazardous waste.
If they are non-hazardous, they can be dried and landfilled with the approval
of your local solid waste authority. |
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Fact sheet 14 of 18
Montana State University Extension
Service
Pollution Prevention Program Taylor Hall Bozeman, Montana 59717
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