Europe

As the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Directive is being transposed into national law across Europe, three organisations (European Committee of Household Appliance Manufacturers, European Electronics Recyclers Association, WEEE forum) are working together in developing guidelines for the treatment of refrigerants containing hydrocarbons. Although the hydrocarbons used in refrigeration equipment do not deplete the ozone layer and have very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared with fluorinated refrigerants, the recycling of equipment using this refrigerant is not risk-free. The treatment specification thereby ensures that any release of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere complies with environmental law.