How Refrigerators and Freezers Are Recycled

El-Kretsen collects nearly 30,000 tonnes of discarded refrigerators and freezers each year, transporting them to specialised facilities that can safely handle refrigerants.

Since 1995, it has been prohibited to use CFCs (freons) in refrigerators. Even though the average age of collected refrigerators is 15 years, some are still old enough to contain CFCs – refrigerants known to damage the Earth’s ozone layer and contribute to climate change. Different refrigerators and freezers contain different refrigerants. To eliminate the risk of releasing climate warming gases, all refrigeration units are processed in the same way.

The Recycling Process for Refrigerators and Freezers

1. Refrigerators and freezers arrive at the recycling facility.
2. The units are emptied of all loose contents, such as shelves and drawers. These are sorted as glass or plastic.
3. Hazardous waste such as oil and cooling circuits is removed. The refrigerant is extracted using a special vacuum pump. This process takes place in a closed system to ensure nothing can leak out.
4. The material is shredded in a closed system, where different material types are also separated.
5. In the shredder, CFCs can be released from the insulation material. If this happens, the gas is extracted into a dedicated container.