Recover refrigerant before scrap: 90 or 80 percent

• Before the truck leaves the driveway, confirm the compressor status on the removal ticket. Environmental Protection Agency specifies that certified small-appliance equipment is tested to recover 90 percent of the refrigerant when the small appliance compressor is functional, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Protection Agency](https://www.epa.gov/section608/refrigerant-recovery-and-recycling-equipment-certification).
• These percentages apply specifically to small-appliance equipment certification and do not set a universal recovery rate for every central air conditioner or rooftop unit.
• The federal rule prohibits knowingly venting refrigerant. This ban covers the disposal phase, which includes the moment the unit is ready for scrap. A de minimis release is not a free pass to vent a system; the prohibition targets knowing releases during these activities.

The first check on the removal ticket is the state of the compressor. This single fact determines which recovery line applies to the equipment. If the compressor runs, use the 90 percent line. This line applies specifically to small appliances where the compressor works. It is not a general rule for every type of HVAC equipment. The scope is limited to the small appliance category defined by the source.

If the compressor does not run, the requirement changes. The equipment used must still meet this 80 percent standard for non-functional compressors in small appliances.

Dispatchers should note that these percentages refer to the performance of the recovery and recycling equipment, not necessarily the exact amount of refrigerant in the specific unit. The equipment is tested against these benchmarks. When a crew arrives at a site, they must identify if the unit is a small appliance. If it is, they must test if the compressor works. If it works, they use equipment certified for the 90 percent line. If it does not work, they use equipment certified for the 80 percent line.

The distinction matters for compliance. Using equipment that does not meet the specific certification for the compressor status can result in non-compliance. The source ties these numbers directly to the compressor's function. It does not provide a single universal percentage for all scenarios. The dispatcher's role is to ensure the crew knows which line applies before they begin recovery. The ticket should record the compressor status. This record supports the choice of recovery method.

The federal rule states that no person maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of an appliance or industrial process refrigeration may knowingly vent or otherwise release into the environment any refrigerant from such appliances, according to Code of Federal Regulations. The Legal Information Institute presents the same prohibition, noting that no person maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of an appliance or industrial process refrigeration may knowingly vent or otherwise release into the environment any refrigerant from such appliances, according to Legal Information Institute. This restriction applies specifically to the act of knowingly venting or releasing refrigerant into the environment. The scope covers actions taken while maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of the equipment. It does not cover accidental releases that are not known at the time of occurrence. The rule targets the intentional or knowing release of the substance.

A de minimis exception exists for specific circumstances. The Code of Federal Regulations states that de minimis releases associated with good faith attempts to recycle or recover refrigerants are not subject to this prohibition, according to Code of Federal Regulations. The Legal Information Institute confirms that de minimis releases associated with good faith attempts to recycle or recover refrigerants are not subject to this prohibition, according to Legal Information Institute. This exception applies only when the release is associated with a good faith attempt to recycle or recover the refrigerant. It does not apply to venting that occurs without an attempt to recover the substance. The release must be de minimis in nature. The attempt to recycle or recover must be in good faith. These conditions must be met simultaneously for the exception to apply.

The EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require that refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment be tested to ensure it meets EPA requirements, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This specific 90 percent line applies to certified small-appliance equipment when the compressor works. The 80 percent line applies when the compressor is not functional.

These percentages define the testing standards for the recovery equipment itself, not a guaranteed outcome for every single unit in the field. The EPA page names these lines specifically for small appliances. Do not apply the 90 percent figure to central air conditioners or other equipment types not covered by this specific small-appliance definition. The distinction between a working and a non-working compressor determines which recovery percentage the equipment is tested to meet. Your dispatch team should note the compressor status on the work order before the technician begins recovery. This ensures the correct equipment specification is referenced for the job.

Your crew should verify the compressor status before connecting the recovery machine. This step aligns the field action with the equipment's certified capability.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency details requirements for equipment manufactured or imported after January 1, 2017, in Appendix B3 for non-flammable refrigerants or Appendix B4 for flammable refrigerants, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. When your crew handles a recovery machine that was made or brought into the country after that date, check which appendix applies based on the refrigerant type. This distinction matters because the certification standards differ between non-flammable and flammable systems. If the unit is a small appliance with a working compressor, the recovery equipment must meet the specific testing lines for that category.

For motor vehicle air conditioning systems, the Code of Federal Regulations sets specific container rules. A non-exempt substitute refrigerant intended for use in an MVAC is sold in a container designed to hold two pounds or less of refrigerant, according to Code of Federal Regulations. This container must have a unique fitting. If the container was manufactured or imported on or after January 1, 2018, it must also have a self-sealing valve that complies with the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of the section. This provision applies starting January 1, 2018, for all containers holding two pounds or less of non-exempt substitute refrigerant for use in an MVAC that are manufactured or imported on or after that date, according to Code of Federal Regulations.

Do not treat the two-pound container rule as the charge size of a home air conditioner. This rule specifically addresses non-exempt substitute refrigerants for MVAC systems. If your firm handles both residential and commercial vehicles, verify which refrigerant type and container size applies to the specific job. The self-sealing valve requirement is a hardware feature of the container itself, not a setting on the recovery machine. Check the container date and fitting type before connecting it to the system. If the container was manufactured or imported on or after January 1, 2018, and lacks the self-sealing valve required for that MVAC use, it may not be compliant for that application.

Wisconsin law prohibits the release of regulated refrigerants into the atmosphere, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This prohibition applies to the release of regulated refrigerants, as stated on the Refrigerant Recovery Program page. The state does not treat the 90 percent recovery line as its own standard; that metric belongs to the federal small-appliance equipment testing described in other sections. For your removal ticket, note that Wisconsin's rule is a ban on release, not a percentage target for the recovery machine.

If your crew hauls refrigerated appliances that are to be salvaged and still may contain refrigerants, you must annually certify by submitting the Safe Transport (Form 4500-130) to the DNR, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The page defines these appliances as also known as stationary refrigeration equipment. This annual certification is a specific paperwork requirement for the act of hauling such units. Do not confuse this with the equipment recovery percentage; the form is for the transport of salvage units that may still hold refrigerant.

Any private or public entity responsible for recovering regulated refrigerants from any type of equipment being salvaged must register annually with the DNR, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This registration requirement applies to the entity doing the recovery, not just the hauler. If your firm performs the recovery on-site before the unit leaves the driveway, you are the entity responsible for that recovery. Check your registration status before the crew departs.

Wisconsin facilities must also comply with federal refrigerant regulations for stationary refrigeration equipment and motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) equipment under Title VI of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (40 C.F.R.), according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This means the state rules operate alongside the federal rules you will find in the earlier sections of this guide. The federal ban on knowingly venting and the 90 percent/80 percent equipment testing lines apply in Wisconsin as well. You cannot use Wisconsin's salvage registration as a substitute for following the federal recovery standards.

A crew finds two small appliances. One compressor runs, and the crew uses equipment certified for 90 percent. The other compressor does not run, and the crew uses equipment certified for 80 percent. The ticket lists both results before scrap.

Write the compressor status on the removal ticket today, then match the recovery equipment to the 90 percent line or the 80 percent line. Use the Field Service Work Order Checklist for Dispatch Handoffs and the Work order statuses: 6 words to check at dispatch before the crew rolls.

What recovery percent does the EPA page name when a small-appliance compressor works?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency names 90 percent of the refrigerant in the small appliance when the small appliance compressor is functional, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

What percent does it name when the compressor does not work?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency names 80 percent of the refrigerant in the small appliance when the compressor is not functional, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

What does the federal page ban during disposal?

The Code of Federal Regulations states that no person maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of an appliance or industrial process refrigeration may knowingly vent or otherwise release into the environment any refrigerant from such appliances, according to Code of Federal Regulations.

Does the 90 percent line apply to every rooftop unit?

The 90 percent line applies to small appliances when the compressor is functional, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Check the specific equipment type and compressor status on your removal ticket before applying this percent.