Refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners all contain environmentally harmful refrigerants. Unscrupulous appliance scrappers simply cut the refrigerant lines, releasing the gas into the atmosphere. This is not only illegal, but extremely harmful to the atmosphere.
In 1989, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), such as R11, R12, R22, were found to have an impact on ozone depletion and were banned for use in developed countries in 2010. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), such as R-32 and R134a, while having no ozone depleting effects, have significant global warming properties if released. For instance, the roughly 300 grams of HFC contained in the average refrigerator has the warming equivalent to around 945 pounds of CO2, or the amount the average car emits driving 1,600 miles.
In compliance with EPA regulations and local laws, Earth Friendly Recycling maintains paperwork and ensures every refrigerant containing appliance is evacuated of its refrigerant prior to dismantling, eliminating the potential harmful effects of releasing it into the atmosphere. Once the refrigerant is removed, it is available to be filtered and reused.