Air conditioners make it possible to live comfortably indoors during hot spring and summer months.
One of the downsides of owning anair conditioner, though, is disposing of it.
But is it really that harmful and why?
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
If so, how do you dispose of these bulky appliances the correct way?
If your A/C has a paper filter, that just might be the only biodegradable material on the unit.
These materials have a big enough impact on our environment.
But the worst material in A/Cs is one that you cannot see: refrigerants.
Tip
Refrigerant gasses contained in air conditioners are harmful to the environment.
Olderair conditionerscontain particularly hazardous chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as their refrigerant.
These were phased out in 1995.
The industry then switched to halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, with HCFC-22 (or, R-22) most widely used.
R-22’s phase-out period began in 2010.
Production of all R-22-based air conditioners stopped for good in 2020.
But many air conditioners that are still operating use R-22 refrigerant.
Even the newest, safest refrigerant, R410a, is harmful.
What’s the Law?
Equipment used to reclaim the refrigerants must meet performance standards.
Anyone technically qualified can reclaim refrigerants; they do not have to be certified HVAC technicians.
Local authorities may have additional requirements for correctly disposing of air conditioners.
Currently, 77 facilities across 32 states are part of the EPA’s RAD program.
These facilities have qualified technicians and equipment to safely reclaim refrigerants.
Often, utilities pay customers a small stipend, rebate, or discount to recycle their inefficient appliances.
Sometimes, these rebates are good for newer, efficient models that fall under the EPA’s EnergyStar program.
Consult Local Disposal Agency
Some municipalities have curbside pickup programs for air conditioners and other appliances.
The municipalities subcontract disposal through private parties.
Fun Fact
It’s estimated that 40-percent of the appliances end up on this secondary market.
But they may just end up dropping the appliance in the landfill.
Check their websites, plus call and verify that they will actually do this.
Donate directly or go through a local aid coordination group.
Non-profits and faith-based groups often know of people in need, too.
What About HVAC Systems?
Properly disposing of portable or window air conditioners by yourself is one thing.
But what about largecentral air conditionersor single-zone mini-splits?
Are old systems properly disposed of by the HVAC companies?
Yes, they are.
Or at least, they should be.
In fact, companies can earn money by selling the recovered refrigerant to an EPA-certified refrigerant reclaimer.
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1, 2017. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/891/1/012218.
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Australia Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements.
Disposing of Appliances Responsibly.
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Older Adults and Extreme Heat.
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
Residential Air Conditioning and the Phaseout of HCFC-22: What you should probably Know.
