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Your refrigerator’s coolant might be quietly contributing to climate change. If you have an older model, it was likely made with one of several refrigerants that have since been banned because they are powerful greenhouse gases if leaked or improperly disposed of. It's also something to consider if you're in the market for a new refrigerator.
Over the past 15 years, significant changes have occurred in the refrigerant industry. The way you dispose of an old refrigerator and the type of refrigerant in your new one actually matter.
What are refrigerants and why do they matter?
Refrigerant is a key component in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems, but depending on its composition, what's cooling your fridge may contribute to global warming.
Refrigerants 101: How They Work
Refrigerant, which can change between liquid and gas states under different pressures and temperatures, runs through the coils of a refrigerator’s cooling system.
Refrigerants are the working fluids used to absorb heat at low temperatures and pressures, and release it at higher temperatures and pressures, enabling the cooling or heating cycle.
Without them (or a suitable alternative), the basic cooling/heat‐pump cycle doesn’t work. Refrigerants play a crucial role in food preservation, as well as in modern indoor comfort, building systems, and other applications.
As the graphic from Science ABC depicts, this system is also why your refrigerator needs proper ventilation space, especially at the back where coils release heat from the cooling process.
Refrigerants can be potent greenhouse gases
Common refrigerant types and environmental impact
| Type | Common Name | Typical Applications | Environmental Impact | Phase-out / Phase-down Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-134a | HFC | Domestic refrigerators, auto A/C | High GWP (~1,430x CO₂) | Being phased down, banned in new products / light-duty vehicles |
| R-600a | Isobutane to Low | Fridges | Very low GWP (~3) | Widely used as low-GWP replacement for R-134a |
| R-290 | Propane | Domestic & commercial refrigeration, small A/C units | Very low GWP (~3) | Allowed in limited charge sizes, mostly in Europe (flammability limits apply) |
| R-32 | HFC | Residential & light commercial A/C, heat pumps | Lower GWP than older alternatives | Allowed but monitored |
| R-744 | CO₂ | Commercial applications, i.e. Supermarkets, heat pumps, transport refrigeration | Ultra-low GWP | Not restricted. Needs high pressure systems. |
Many years ago, the most common refrigerants were chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs, such as R-11 and R-12) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs, including R-22 and R-123), which were found to deplete the ozone layer. CFCs have been fully banned, and HCFCs are banned but still being phased out.
Some refrigerants used today (i.e., R‑134a, R-143a, and R-410A) are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs—containing no chlorine) or blends thereof, which may not deplete the ozone layer but can have very high global warming potentials (GWPs). For example, R-134a is reported to have a GWP of about 1,430 (i.e., one kilogram of R-134a has the same warming effect over 100 years as ~1,430 kg of carbon dioxide), and that’s a relatively mild one. R-143a has a GWP of ~4,800.
Because large cooling systems may be charged with tens or hundreds of pounds (or more) of refrigerant, even small leaks or venting can have a significant impact on the climate. Even refrigerants that don’t deplete ozone (or only deplete a little) still matter for climate change if they leak. As one article put it: “When it comes to heating the planet, the fluid in your AC is thousands of times worse than carbon dioxide.”
How to properly dispose of refrigerants
Proper disposal (or recovery & recycling) is a critical part of minimizing greenhouse gas impact. Key practices and regulatory requirements include:
Refrigerant recovery and recycling rules
The EPA has strict requirements for the safe disposal of refrigerants. When servicing or disposing of equipment that contains refrigerant, it is essential to recover the refrigerant (i.e., capture it rather than vent it) using certified recovery equipment.
The recovered refrigerant may be reused, reclaimed (processed to a specification that allows for reuse), or destroyed if it cannot be reused.
For large appliances, demolition or disposal sites must ensure that refrigerant is removed or the system is properly evacuated. One EPA factsheet for construction/demolition emphasizes the removal of CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs before an appliance can be moved on to scrap or recycling.
Certified recyclers must not knowingly release refrigerant into the atmosphere by cutting lines, crushing units, or venting them to scrap. They must also maintain documentation of their actions, especially for large systems.
Why venting is prohibited
Per EPA requirements, it is illegal to intentionally vent refrigerants (whether ozone‐depleting or their substitutes) during service, maintenance, repair, or disposal.
Only very limited “de minimis” releases (for example, those resulting from connecting/disconnecting hoses) are permitted. This helps ensure that refrigerants are properly disposed of with minimal environmental impact.
This matters because every pound (or kilogram) of refrigerant that leaks or is vented can have a very large climate impact due to high GWP. By preventing leakage, recovering, and reclaiming refrigerant, we reduce the future environmental burden.
How manufacturers are changing
How we got here: a brief history of refrigerant types, from bad to better.
All of the models on our list of the best refrigerators we’ve tested use the R-600a refrigerant, which is currently deemed the best residential choice for its combination of efficiency, low GWP, and low flammability.
Some commercial units have adopted R-290 (propane), but it is significantly more flammable than R-600a and may require specific fire suppression systems, making it unsuitable for residential use. The EPA maintains a list of substitutes in household refrigerators and freezers that specifies acceptable and unacceptable substitutions for banned refrigerants.
What consumers can do
When shopping for a new refrigerator or A/C unit, look for one with R-600a refrigerant and an Energy Star rating.
When disposing of an old appliance, always schedule pickup or recycling through a certified hauler. Never attempt to cut refrigerant lines or scrap metal independently. Many appliance retailers provide haul-away services, so be sure to ask if they recover refrigerants responsibility.
You don’t need to be an HVAC engineer to make a difference—choosing the right energy efficient appliances and recycling appliances responsibly can dramatically reduce your home’s hidden climate footprint.
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