Appliances Contain Hazardous Materials
  • Refrigerators, air conditioners, and freezers made
    before 1995 contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
  • Most air conditioners produced after 1995 contain hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
  • CFCs and HCFCs harm the Earth's ozone layer.
  • Refrigerators, freezers, and some air conditioners manufactured after 1995 contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are not ozone-depleters, but still require proper disposal.
  • Other hazardous materials in some appliances include oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury. These materials can have a very harmful impact on the air, water, and soil.
Fines for Improper Disposal
Federal law requires that refrigerants be recovered in old refrigerated appliances (air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, etc.). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can impose fines up to $25,000 for improper disposal. If you need assistance finding someone to recover your refrigerant, or if you see someone improperly disposing of an appliance, call the EPA's Stratospheric Ozone Hotline
at 1-800-296-1996.