12. End-of-life treatment of HFOs in the selected countries

There has been an EU regulatory framework for waste management and handling since 1975.

EEC (1975)

While the regulatory framework pertaining to waste has been amended, expanded, and nuanced since 1975, and a wide range of measures and approaches are readily available today, all European countries still have more or less challenges with illegal dumping, even when overlooking unregistered illegal dumping.

Alves (2023)

Regarding HFO gases, the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases, amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 517/2014, clarify that the undertaking that uses a container with fluorinated greenhouse gasses shall immediately before disposal arrange for the recovery of any residual gases, ensuring that they are recycled, reclaimed, or destroyed.

EC (2022b)

F-gases are classified as hazardous waste. Hazardous waste may only be processed or utilised by a facility with an environmental permit. All F-gases should be delivered for recycling or further treatment. In the European List of Waste CFCs, HFCFCs and HFCs have the waste classification code 14 06 01*. They are classified as hazardous waste, as indicated by the asterisk.

It differs or is unclear whether the respective countries actively and explicitly categorise pure HFOs under this code and, therefore, as hazardous substances. Germany and Finland consider unsaturated hydrofluorocarbons hazardous and refer to waste code 14 06 01*. Norway and Sweden do not consider HFOs to be hazardous wastes. According to the Danish KMO, all refrigerants will, per definition, be classified as hazardous waste according to the Danish Waste Act, but whether waste code 14 06 01* or 14 06 02* is most suitable can be discussed.

KMO (2023)

Multiple waste handling companies are authorised to collect and transport waste with waste code 14 06 01* in the countries studied. It is unclear whether the respective countries actively and explicitly categorise pure HFOs under this code and, therefore, as hazardous substances. The information in product safety sheets from retailers varies, and several of the companies operating in the countries in question link to the safety sheets from manufacturers, such as Honeywell and Chemours, that state to dispose of according to legal requirements while referring to the EU Waste Framework Directive.

Honeywell (2022) & Chemours (2021)

One retailer lists waste code 16 05 04* in their safety sheet, which is gasses in pressure containers (including halons) containing hazardous substances.

Linde (2020)

Another merely states that the product is covered by the regulation on hazardous waste.

Christonik (2013)

However, nothing from this study indicates that HFOs in practice during waste handling are handled differently from other F-gases.

Companies and contractors working with refrigerants often do basic recycling that allows immediate reuse of the refrigerants. This is common practice in all the countries in this study.

Regarding practice, Sweden is a relevant example. In Sweden, WEEE facilities receive equipment containing F-gases at end-of-life (Fortum Waste Solution and Eco Scandic Oy do not handle F-gas-containing equipment but send it to the WEEE facility). Here, the F-gases are removed from the equipment and collected for further treatment, often destruction.

Poulsen (2022)

The F-gases that need simple recycling are typically treated in a facility in Sweden, while those that need more complex recycling are exported; typically to Finland.

Svenska kyl- og varmepumpforeningen & Eco Scandic (2023)

The current procedure for end-of-life treatment of HFOs is the same as for HFCs, and as such the facilities can handle HFOs in the same way that HFCs are handled.

Svenska kyl- og varmepumpforeningen, Eco Scandic & Fortum Waste (2023)

According to The Swedish Refrigeration and Heat Pump Association, the four main recyclers operating in Sweden are Ahlsell, Kylma, Dahl and Ecoscandic. Several professional collectors buy recovered refrigerants, recycle them, and sell them back to operating companies. Many practitioners working with F-gases reuse and recycle the F-gases themselves.

Svenska kyl- og varmepumpforeningen (2023)

 

Eco Scandic is one of the few end-of-life treatment companies that are doing full reclamation throughout all the Nordic countries. They received a total of 67 tons of F-gas for reclamation in 2022. Of these, less than 2% were HFOs (1.34 tonnes), and the HFOs were mainly HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze. This is partly due to the relative novelty of HFOs in HVAC-R equipment, as the average lifetime for these appliances is approximately at least 5-7 years. Eco Scandic has a waste fee in Sweden and Finland of at least 4,5€/kg, as stipulated on their website.

Eco Scandic (2023)

However, waste fees can range from 18€/kg, depending on the service provider. Eco Scandic has agreements with several wholesalers, providing reclamation of their recovered F-gases and then selling them back to the wholesaler.

According to Eco Scandic Oy, the take-back models vary sporadically in the different sectors. Eco Scandic typically creates a specific take-back model in collaboration with the specific stakeholder. Eco Scandic reclaims HFC/HFO blends and pure HFCs and HFOs and sends unreclaimable F-gases to Fortum for destruction. The approach varies slightly when it is an A2L-classified refrigerant rather than a non-flammable refrigerant. Eco Scandic Oy processes both types.

Eco Scandic (2023)

  In Finland, Darment also has an environmental permit for recycling refrigerants.

In Germany, the market situation is quite different, and there are several reclamation facilities that handle F-gases, including HFOs. However, there is currently no data on the amounts of HFOs recovered.

Umwelt Bundesamt (2023)

In Switzerland, only private companies with an environmental permit can recycle and do reclamation.

FOEN (2023)

Fortum has recycling and waste facilities in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Fortum has facilities in Sweden and Finland that destroy recovered refrigerants; Fortum Sweden also imports recovered refrigerants from other countries for destruction. Fortum receives F-gases from waste companies that collect waste from different industries, from recyclers of products containing F-gases, from companies that service equipment containing refrigerants and from retailers of refrigerants. For destruction (as opposed to recycling/reclaiming), the technical barrier mostly consists of capacity limitations.

Fortum Waste (2023)

Regulations limit the levels of fluoride that can be emitted during the incineration process, and there is a limit to how fast you can decrease the fluoride levels in the gas; therefore, this is the immediate and general barrier and limiting factor for the destruction of F-gases. Fortum incinerates multiple fluorinated substances, not just F-gases. There are no technical differences in the methods for handling HFCs and HFOs. The distinction is drawn between HFC, SF6 and PFC. Fortum also receives F-gases used as aerosol propellants.

Fortum Waste (2023)

 Fortum registers whom they receive F-gases from, allowing them to get information on sector uses, etc.

Stena Recycling also has a centre in Halmstad, Sweden, with onsite destruction of F-gases collected in products or bulk from Stena Recycling’s other sites across Europe. The applied destruction process is Regenerative Thermal Oxidizing (RTO).

Asphjell et al (2023)

In Switzerland, nine waste treatment facilities are authorised to handle waste under code 14 06 01 or dispose of it. Some companies are also authorised to reclaim F gases.

FOEN (2023)

In Germany, there are 7 destruction facilities.

Ludig et al (2022)

Waste exports from the countries covered in this study vary depending on whether the country has any destruction facilities. Iceland exports all refrigerants to Denmark. WEEE applications are shipped to H.J. Hansen in Denmark and Stena Recycling in either Denmark or Sweden. The Faroe Islands likewise exports all refrigerants and all WEEE equipment to Denmark.

Denmark exports all refrigerants primarily to Germany and France. Fortum Nyborg has previously destroyed F-gases but is currently not providing this service. Switzerland exports waste mainly to Germany. Germany has no regular waste export since the country has several destruction facilities.

Norway exports all refrigerants collected through SRG to France for destruction. Stena Recycling and Revac handle WEEE in Norway, and Stena Recycling exports its waste to Stena Recycling’s facility in Sweden, where the refrigerants and the foam-blowing agents are recovered and destroyed. Foam-blowing agents are sent to Germany for destruction. Sweden exports refrigerants to Finland for reclamation. No waste export from Finland was identified.

There are no treatment technical barriers for fitting HFOs into the existing systems for recovery, collection, recycling, reclamation and destruction of other fluorinated refrigerants, and HFOs are already handled through the existing infrastructure to a great extent. This is despite there being no or limited legal requirements for handling and monitoring HFOs.  

Barriers to ensuring that the remaining HFOs are treated through the current systems are rather a lack of inclusion in the legislation, and some informants to this study also identified lack of knowledge among practitioners as a barrier.

Naturvårdsverket (2023)

Lack of personnel educated in servicing the new low-GWP refrigerants is a Europe-wide problem, according to the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA).

AREA (2021)

Other challenges concerning proper HFO treatment are likely to be the same as those for handling HFCs. Specific technical know-how to reclaim HFOs and HFCs

Naturvårdsverket (2023)

is needed, which can be a barrier if end-of-life treatment facility operators are not sufficiently aware of this aspect of the F-gases life cycle.

Some HFOs are flammable refrigerants (A2L). As a consequence, different equipment is needed for leak detection and recovery. The cylinder needs to be approved for flammable refrigerants, and the recovered refrigerant needs to be labelled, showing it contains a flammable substance.

AREA (2016)

This type of equipment is available and required when handling other refrigerants, e.g., HFC-32, commonly used in RACHP applications, especially domestic heat pumps. However, the operators must be qualified to handle flammable refrigerants and their equipment.

The process for destroying HFOs is similar for HFCs, and companies that handle HFCs also typically handle HFOs. The reclamation process varies slightly since some are A2L-classified refrigerants. Still, there are no technical barriers to reclaiming HFOs, and the Nordic reclamation company Eco Scandic Oy is an example of a facility that reclaims both HFCs and HFOs.

Eco Scandic (2023)

However, more research is recommended as more and new types of HFOs and HFO/HFC blends enter the market and, in time, will need to be properly treated. There are current efforts to address this. Swedish KTH Royal Institute is working on a 2-year project “Tank to grave management of new low GWP refrigerants” with EcoScandic Oy, Linde Gas AB, Ahlsell, HUURRE AB, and Thermia AB. The project will investigate low-GWP refrigerants throughout their entire lifetime and study whether low-refrigerant blends keep their original compositions throughout their lifetime, and if not, then what are the decompositions? Moreover, it will map the potential for recovery and recycling as well as the state-of-the-art of tank-to-grave management of new low-GWP. The project is scheduled to be finalised at the end of 2024.

KTH (n.d.) a

           

A number of barriers to the handling of HFOs in existing systems have been identified and can be viewed in table 5. The barriers listed do not necessarily express uniquely national challenges, even though not explicitly identified while mapping the other respective countries.