Change is happening in the US refrigerants business, but to get a true understanding of what’s going on you have to view the market in detail. Older laws which target the phase-out of virgin R22 and other HCFCs will mean that the final small quotas of R22 will be released in the years up until 2020.
Virgin R22 will no longer be locally produced or imported after that date and reclaim R22 will be the only like- for-like solution to fill the gap. The framework of regulations in the US will result in the gas being re-used time and time again, and it’s also important to bear in mind that there is no date pencilled in for a ban on reclaimed R22.
US authorities look at regulating the market differently to Europe. Putting a use ban in place on reclaimed refrigerant is not the answer for them. They would rather use the gas up and let usage be dictated by the lifespan of equipment.
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