The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has published research project AHRI 8018: Review of Refrigerant Management Programs. This project characterized refrigerant management and recycling programs implemented in key regions of the world, evaluated their effectiveness, and determined best practices as they relate to the refrigerant landscape in the United States.  

The report provides clarity and insights on seven primary jurisdictions: Australia, Canada, California, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. It also includes a high-level review of activities in China and Brazil. The focus areas of research included characterizing the current processes for original equipment manufacturers, contractors, end users, and reclaimers to handle refrigerants, how and where refrigerant recycling happens, and the amount of refrigerants ultimately destroyed.

“This report marks the culmination of the largest effort ever attempted to determine the refrigerant ‘lay of the land’ on a global scale,” said Karim Amrane, AHRI senior vice president of regulatory and international policy. “The information it contains will be invaluable as the world moves closer to phasing down HFCs and replacing them over the coming decades.”

Navigant Consulting Inc. conducted a literature review and interviewed key personnel in the target jurisdictions to develop the detailed content of this report. Research covered the regulations, roles and responsibilities, funding sources, incentive and enforcement mechanisms, performance, refrigerant recovery, tracking and reporting, outreach, training, and flow of refrigerants in the nine jurisdictions.