What is refrigerant recovery?
Refrigerant recovery is the legally mandated extraction of Freon or other refrigerant gases from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment before the unit is scrapped or recycled.
When a refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, or other cooling appliance reaches the end of its life, the refrigerant inside must be safely removed and contained before the equipment can be disposed of or recycled. This extraction process is refrigerant recovery.
In Ontario, refrigerant recovery is required by law. Refrigerants like Freon are ozone-depleting substances and potent greenhouse gases that cause serious environmental harm if released into the atmosphere. Licensed technicians use specialized equipment to pump out and store the refrigerant in sealed containers so it can be recycled or properly destroyed by authorized facilities.
Without recovery, the refrigerant vents into the air during the scrapping or crushing of the appliance, making an otherwise recyclable unit an environmental liability. Junk removal services in Ontario that handle appliances must either perform recovery themselves or partner with licensed refrigeration technicians to complete the process before disposal.
The recovered refrigerant can sometimes be reused in other equipment or sent to specialized treatment facilities. This is why appliance removal companies often quote separately for refrigerant recovery or flag it as a required service when booking an appointment.