Introducing Cool-Safe: We’ll pay you for your recovered refrigerants

COOL-SAFE IS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND’S VOLUNTARY PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP SCHEME FOR REFRIGERANTS

Cool-Safe is governed by The Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants, which was formed in 1993 to manage refrigerant gas collection and destruction in New Zealand.

Since 1993, the Trust’s former voluntary ‘Recovery’ scheme (now Cool-Safe) has prevented more than 1,326,000 tonnes of CO2eq greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to 36,000 tonnes of ozone depletion from harming our atmosphere, through to October 2022. CO2eq (carbon dioxide equivalent) stands for a unit based on the global warming potential of different greenhouse gases. The CO2eq unit measures the environmental impact of one tonne of these greenhouse gases in comparison to the impact of one tonne of CO2.

Cool-Safe is building on the work of Recovery to inspire and enable the refrigerants industry to increase that even further and reduce the impact of synthetic refrigerants released into the atmosphere by 90 per cent by 2035.

They are also committed to supporting the transition to refrigerant regulations for anyone working with refrigerants (including the automotive industry), expected in 2024. How is Cool-Safe supporting you?

BUY-BACK PROGRAMMES

Through their ‘Bounty Buy-Back Programme’ CoolSafe rewards businesses that deposit recovered refrigerants at one of their collection sites with financial incentives.

Cool-Safe is currently paying $15 per kilo of recovered refrigerant.

Easy Refrigerant Drop Off

Cool-Safe has a growing list of refrigerant collection sites across New Zealand which they’re looking to expand. Likewise, there are courier collection options available for those not close to one of those centres.

Onshore Refrigerant Destruction

Cool-Safe will be using Aotearoa New Zealand’s first and only Plasma Arc Destruction Facility (being developed by The Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants) to avoid the environmental risk that comes with shipping them offshore and reduce the cost of destruction for you and your business.

Championing A Skilled Workforce

Cool-Safe is playing their part in reducing leaks by supporting the development of a training framework that gives anyone working with refrigerants easy access to best practice training.

They’re also developing an accreditation and certification scheme to acknowledge the professionals and keep out the cowboys.

A list of training courses is available on their website.

Keeping You Informed And Connected

Through Cool-Safe’s regular e-updates, webinars, roadshows, website, media releases, and social media channels they help bring all of us working with refrigerants together and keep you up-to-date and engaged.

They know that you know your industry better than anyone else, and they make sure your voice is heard where and when it counts.

For more information visit coolsafe.org.nz, or contact Ben Fechney, Collection Services business development manager, ben@coolsafe.org.nz, or