With the holidays
approaching and the air getting cooler, it’s that time of year again. While,
yes, it’s the time of year for hot chocolate and sledding, we mean something
different here at Gold Circuit E-Cycling. At this time of year, we get an
influx of old air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Because of the changing
seasons, clients are taking window units out or replacing old systems. We want
to make sure that all of our clients are informed about the importance of
responsibly recycling these units. They contain refrigerant, which can have
harmful effects on more than we might think.
What We Accept
At Gold Circuit E-cycling,
we accept any and all air conditioner and dehumidifier units. While these items
normally have a price of $20 to recycle, we have recently lowered it to $10 to
ensure that they are responsibly disposed of. All you need to do is bring them
in to us, and we’ll do the rest of the work. What is so important about this?
Refrigerant Recovery & Recycling
The most important
thing to note about recycling these units is that they contain refrigerant.
Refrigerant is a substance that is used for refrigeration and R-22 is the most
frequently used type of refrigerant found in today’s CFC & HCFC devices.
While an essential substance for these units, it also has a global warming
potential that is 1,800 times that of carbon dioxide. With newer units, a high-pressure
410a gas is being used more frequently than the R-22, as R-22 can no longer be
legally manufactured. What this means is that more of the units containing R-22
are being recycled or disposed of as people upgrade to newer units.
The Process
When we receive a
unit to be recycled, we must first recover the refrigerant. We dismantle the
unit for disposal and are required by law to take out the refrigerant and
dispose of it separately. We move the refrigerant into a separate container and
then decide the best route for its use. If the recycled refrigerant can be
stripped of any impurities and meets purity standards, it can possibly be
recycled and used with other pieces of equipment. Once the unit has been
dismantled, plastic and metal parts are sorted and either recycled or disposed
of.
Importance of Recycling
Since the R-22 gas is
no longer legally made, the demand for it may rise, giving the opportunity to
responsibly recycle this refrigerant for other uses. Our trained professionals
make this decision on a case-by-case basis. Responsibly recycling these units
is especially important for our environment.
R-22, if not properly used or disposed of, can affect the O-Zone layer,
causing harmful effects on our environment. Refrigerant is not a substance we
want sitting out at a landfill or seeping into the ground. They can also release
harmful greenhouse gases with their global warming potential as stated earlier
in the post.
We do our best to
make it as easy on you as possible to drop off your units that need to be
recycled. If we all do our part, we can protect the environment and the world
around us each day. One small way to do that is through responsible recycling.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. We’d love to
share more information with you and answer any questions you may have.
We’d also like to remind you that we are now offering a HALF off deal on our air conditioner and dehumidifier units to make it even easier to recycle these units before the impending holiday season. This is a deal you’ll want to take advantage of!
You can reach
out to us via phone (call or text) at 1-888-283-0007. We’re here to help you
navigate the world of e-cycling.
