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Small Appliances and White Goods Containing Refrigerants

Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, EPA has developed regulations to reduce the emissions of "environmentally harmful" refrigerants into the environment during the servicing and disposal of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment to the "lowest achievable level". This site contains information to help one understand and comply with these regulations as they relate to the servicing and disposal of small appliances.

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ATTENTION NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS!

Before discarding any refrigerator, air conditioner, freezer or other appliances which contain refrigerant, you must call the NYC Department of Sanitation Exit EPA disclaimer to schedule an appointment to have the refrigerant removed.

 

Links to Other Relevant Sites

Link to the Local Government Environmental Network website

Local Government Environmental Assistance NetworkExit EPA disclaimer

 

link to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America website

Air Conditioning Contractors of AmericaExit EPA disclaimer

Link to the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute website

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration InstituteExit EPA disclaimer

Link to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers website

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning EngineersExit EPA disclaimer

Link to the International Institute of Refrigeration website 

International Institute of RefrigerationExit EPA disclaimer

link to the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society website

Refrigeration Service Engineers SocietyExit EPA disclaimer

  NAPHCC

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling ContractorsExit EPA disclaimer

 

Servicing Requirements

Since 1993, EPA has required service practices to be used during the maintenance and repair of small appliances that maximize the recycling of refrigerants.

  

Checklists for Small Appliances

Two checklist have been developed to assist those involved in servicing and disposing of small appliances determine their federal regulatory compliance status. If one voluntarily discloses any violations found through the use of these checklists to us, EPA may eliminate or substantially reduce the penalties associated with these violations under our Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policies.

 

Enforcement Actions
If you are currently involved in an investigation, you may reduce your penalty by agreeing to perform a supplemental environmental project.
 

Alternative Refrigerants

In 1994, EPA established the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program to review alternatives to ozone-depleting substances like CFC-12 in regards to their ozone-depleting, global warming, flammability and toxicity characteristics. Under this program, EPA has determined that several refrigerants are acceptable for use as CFC replacements in small appliances.

 

Compliance Assistance Hotline:   

(212) 637-4050

Small Appliances and White Goods | Industrial Process Refrigeration | Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners | The Science of Ozone Depletion | Commercial & Other Refrigeration & AC

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