HVAC Recycling Options

If you’re upgrading to a new heating and cooling system in your home, HVAC disposal is something to be aware of. Your options for disposal include recycling and landfill facilities, bounty programs, and rehoming it to family or donating to a charity. Just leaving components to be picked up on the street as large-item trash, or placing them in a convenient dumpster isn’t the correct approach. Disposing of some HVAC components haphazardly could even violate laws due to toxic substances such as refrigerant.

Correct HVAC disposal means proper recycling of all the parts. Typically, a professional HVAC contractor who installed your new system will be familiar with the process of HVAC disposal and handle it for you. For your own information and to make sure it’s done right, here’s an overview of recycling used HVAC components.

Where Can I Recycle My HVAC

Recycling and Landfill Facilities

If you’re looking to recycle a large piece of equipment like an HVAC, you’ll need to find a recycling facility that accepts larger equipment pieces. This could include anything from refrigerators to HVAC units. These facilities have the equipment and know-how to properly recycle your HVAC in an eco-friendly way. Many of these facilities charge fees while others will waive the fee if needed in order to encourage environmentally friendly HVAC disposal.

Landfill facilities, on the other hand, safely dispose of the unit. These facilities will dispose of recyclable pieces while non-recyclables end up in the landfill.

Bounty Programs

If your unit meets certain requirements you may be eligible for a bounty program. This is when the utility company buys back your HVAC. The company will either pick-up or have you drop-off the unit.

Additional Options

Your options don’t stop at bounty programs and recycling facilities. If your unit is still usable you may as well let someone else get some use out of it.

If you’re unsure what to do with your HVAC try:

• Giving it to a family member or friend
• Donating it to charity
• Selling it for some extra cash

With so many options for disposal, there’s no reason to take the less eco-friendly route. Practice proper HVAC recycling practices using one of the options listed. And if you’re still not sure how to get started with the recycling process, contact your local HVAC professional for guidance.

RECYCLABLE PARTS

HVAC components that are recyclable need to be sorted and transported to the proper recycling center for the material. Parts that are recyclable include:

• Air conditioner evaporator and condenser coils
• Fan motor and compressor motor
• Copper refrigerant conduit
• Most furnace parts including the burners, heat exchanger and cabinet
• Metal ductwork
• Assorted electrical parts
• Cardboard shipping boxes that contained your new HVAC system

REFRIGERANT ISSUES

The refrigerant chemical that circulates inside your air conditioner is a restricted substance and could pose a threat to the environment if improperly disposed of. Refrigerant handling and disposal are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Refrigerant can only be installed and removed from a unit by licensed HVAC technicians. In addition, when an old air conditioner is being replaced, the refrigerant must be removed by professionals before the component can be legally discarded or recycled.

Refrigerant removal requires a specific procedure in which the refrigerant is vacuumed out of the component and contained in a sealed tank. The used refrigerant must then be delivered to an authorized reclamation center.

Who Can I Call in Orlando About HVAC Disposal?

You probably aren’t recycling HVAC units on a daily basis, so it’s normal to feel a bit lost when it comes time to get a new unit. For guidance on the proper process of HVAC disposal, ask the professionals at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions.