R-134a

[kjthb]

I believe R-134a is not an ozone-depleting substance or Class 2 if I'm not mistaken. Does anyone know the penalty for releasing the substance into the atmosphere from a Fridge? Someone was saying it was a $100,000 fine for the company but there doesn't seem to be anything online that I can find.

[Admin]

These posts may help,

https://www.hvactechgroup.com/hvacforum/index.php?topic=292.msg502#msg502

https://www.hvactechgroup.com/hvacforum/index.php?topic=920.0

I'm not exactly sure how the fines work though.  The Ministry of the Environment is who to check with.

[kjthb]

Thanks!

[rmuntz]

According to the ODP Regulations:

minimum $5000, maximum $4,000,000 per day, plus possible jail time.

This applies to CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs

(yes, I said 4 million)

[Porcupinepuffer]

Since it's a federal law, that means it's usually a huge mess for finding the exact information on the laws, and then if you should break the law, it's another mess for federal employee's to try and figure out who's job it is to deal with it.
I find it simple to just do what you're supposed to do as part of your job, especially when you hold an ODP certificate. It applies beyond ozone depleting substances. If not, we would be allowed to dump the very common 410a into the atmosphere anytime we feel like. It may not have an ozone depleting issue, but it does have a global warming effect.

Every so often, I do refrigerator/deep freezer removals for health Canada where I'm disposing of upwards of 18+ units. I simply use a clamp on vice grip type tool to pierce the lines and recover. With the small amounts of refrigerant in each appliance, it really doesn't take long at all to empty... The scrap guys also seem to like it when the units aren't bursting with refrigerant when they hit them with their heavy machinery while environment inspectors are at their site.