Do relatively new refrigerators contain coolant that could be damaging to the environment?

Question

I see people who recycle them stop in a pull off across the road and cut the coolant lines so there is a big cloud of escaping coolant as they drive off towards the recycling center.

Answer 1

THE COOLANT IN REFRIGERATORS IS CFC THAT IS CHLOROFLOUROCARBON.THIS SUBSTANCE IS NOT PRESENT SPECIAL FRIDGES CALLED CFC FREE FRIDGES.IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEATHER THE FRIDGE IS NEW OR OLD THOUGH IN SOME CASES OLD FRIDGES RELEASE MORE CFC

Answer 2

Several years ago up to 13 years ago auto and car a/c systems were switched to the new hydro carbon free Freon almost any repair person can Tell you by model and age.

We have a very big refuge problem with people moving and not being able to afford to move most appliances and furniture.

The people by you that are doing that are dumping the illegal cfc's  into the air creating the black hole that lets the rays come through the atmosphere and cause skin cancer. If you find someone in the business they may drain the cfc's and retain the gas in a tank and then have it picked up or drop it off to recycling centers.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Before about 1995 refrigerators were charged with HCFC's hydrochloroflourocarbons, which they say damages the upper atmosphere. After 1994, they switched to HFC134a, which is a Hydroflourocarbon, no chlorine. Supposedly safer for the atmosphere. But, ANY refrigerant must be recovered properly, and recycled or destroyed properly. Fines can be up to $20,000 depending upon the amount released illegally.