United States Environmental Protection Agency Air and Radiation Stratospheric Protection Division (6205J) November, 1994 RECYCLING REFRIGERANT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONERS A regulation signed in July, 1992 by the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), requires that motor vehicle air conditioning refrigerant be recycled. This fact sheet will help you become familiar with this law and address some of your concerns. Our Threatened Ozone Layer The stratospheric ozone layer shields the earth from harmful (UV) radiation. Scientists worldwide believe that synthetic chemicals such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs, also known by the trade name Freon) are rapidly destroying this layer of gas 10 to 30 miles above the earth's surface. Ozone loss of 3.5% globally has already been recorded and is greatest over Antarctica, where a seasonal ozone "hole" occurs. Recent data strongly suggests that substantial losses may also develop over the North Pole, exposing parts of the U.S. to increasing levels of UV radiation. Ozone loss in the atmosphere is likely to lead to an increase in skin cancer and cataracts and could weaken the human immune system. Agriculture, as well as plant and animal life, may also be dramatically affected. Impact of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners One of the single largest uses of CFCs in the U.S. is as a refrigerant in automobile air conditioners. CFC-12 in motor vehicles accounts for over 20% of all CFC use in this country. Commonly released into the air when car or truck air conditioners are serviced, CFCs rise to the stratosphere where they can remain active for up to 120 years. Solar rays break these molecules apart, releasing chlorine. A single chlorine atom can destroy over one hundred thousand ozone molecules. Worldwide Action to Protect the Ozone Layer The United States has joined over 150 countries in a global effort to protect the ozone layer as a Party to the international treaty known as the Montreal Protocol. In 1990, these countries agreed to phase out production of ozone-depleting substances, including CFC- 12, by the year 2000. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (the Act) incorporated this production phaseout date and also addressed the use and emission of these chemicals. President Bush later pledged to halt almost all U.S. production of CFCs by the end of 1995. Clean Air Act Requirements Approved Equipment Technicians repairing or servicing motor vehicle air conditioners must use either refrigerant recover/recycle or recover-only equipment approved by EPA. Recover/recycle equipment both recovers the refrigerant from the motor vehicle and processes it through an oil separator, a filter, and a dryer. Approved recover/recycle machines meet the technical specifications of SAE Standard J-1990 and must have the capacity to purify used refrigerant to SAE Standard J-1991 for safe and direct return to the air conditioner following repairs. Recover-only equipment removes the refrigerant from the A/C unit as specified by SAE Standard J-2209 and transfers it into a holding tank. Technicians are then required by law either to recycle the used refrigerant on site or send it to an off-site reclamation facility to be purified to ARI Standard 700 before it can be used to recharge A/C equipment. A list of approved equipment is available from EPA at the address on the back of this fact sheet. Most certified equipment will be labeled as "design-certified to SAE standards." Technician Training and Certification Technicians who repair or service motor vehicle air conditioners must be trained and certified by an EPA-approved organization. Training programs must cover use of recycling equipment in compliance with SAE Standard J-1989, the regulatory requirements, the importance of refrigerant containment, and the effects of ozone depletion. To be certified, technicians must pass a test demonstrating their knowledge in these areas. A list of approved testing programs is available from EPA at the address on the back of this fact sheet. Sales Restrictions The sale of any size containers of CFCs to anyone other than certified technicians is prohibited after November 14, 1994. This provision is intended to discourage "do-it-yourselfers" who recharge their own air conditioners. Such individuals often release refrigerant because they typically do not have access to recycling equipment. The Agency encourages "do-it-yourselfers" to bring their cars to certified technicians who can properly fix air conditioners using approved equipment. This avoids damage to a/c equipment by improper charging and helps to protect the environment. Recordkeeping Requirements Service shops must certify the 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. Impacts on A/C Service Because of the planned CFC phaseout and the tax on CFCs, shops that service air conditioners can expect the price of CFC-12 to increase and its availability to decrease. Widespread refrigerant recycling, however, reduces the need for virgin CFC-12 and thus helps keep costs down. Refrigerant recycling is an important step towards the goal of eliminating CFC use. It means that car owners can have their air conditioners fixed until alternatives to CFC-12 are developed. Refrigerant in New Cars Automobile manufacturers are responding to the CFC phaseout by producing new vehicles with an alternative refrigerant called HFC- 134a. This refrigerant does not deplete the ozone layer because it does not contain chlorine. About half of the 1993 model year cars and almost all of the 1994 model year cars are equipped with HFC- 134a air conditioning systems. Choices for Older Car Owners As for existing cars, when the supply of CFC-12 is no longer available, owners may modify their a/c systems to accept the HFC- 134a. Since the HFC-134a works at a higher pressure than the CFC- 12, retrofitting will require that some components be replaced. EPA estimates that retrofits will cost between $100 and $800. The specific requirements will vary depending on the make, model and age of the car, and the car's history of air-conditioning servicing. If you are having major service performed on your CFC- 12 air-conditioning system, modifying the system may be appropriate. Auto manufacturers are currently working to identify retrofit procedures. Most manufacturers have toll-free consumer hotlines which you can call to determine if retrofit procedures have been developed for your automobile. Alternative Refrigerants EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program reviews alternatives to CFC-12 to determine the risks posed to human health and the environment by that alternative. HFC-134a has been approved under the SNAP program. Some refrigerant manufacturers and distributors are conducting research to determine if other substitutes exist which will cool adequately, work compatibly with the components in a/c systems with minimal retrofit procedures. These substitutes must be reviewed under the SNAP program. It is important to keep in mind that the SNAP program does not evaluate the effect of a substitute refrigerant on the life or performance of the components in your car's a/c system, or the effect of a substitute on the system's cooling capacity. By November 15, 1995, all substitute refrigerants will have to be recovered and recycled, technicians handling those substitutes will have to be certified, and equipment used to service those substitutes will have to be approved. * * * * * * By complying with these regulations, you will help preserve the ozone layer for future generations. For further information, please contact the Stratospheric Ozone Information Hotline at 1-800-296-1996 (10am-4pm EST, Monday-Friday, except federal holidays), or you may write: MVACs Recycling Program Manager Stratospheric Protection Division 6205J U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20460