What happens in a fridge recycling plant?
There are various processes. Fully automated plants will mechanically dismantle units under sealed conditions to ensure there are no fugitive emissions. In Stage 1, refrigerant gases and oil will be collected under vacuum and the ODS extracted. Heat is often used to aid the extraction process. The ODS are then liquified before being sent for specialist destruction (often high temperature incineration) elsewhere. In Stage 2, the remainder of the unit is shredded and the re-usable materials, such as the metals and plastic, are mechanically separated out for recycling. At the same time, the insulating foam is recovered, and the CFCs extracted from both the pores and the surface of the material by specialist processes. These CFCs are likewise collected and sent for specialist destruction. What does the future hold for fridge recycling? There is no doubt that the number of end-of-life fridges and freezers with ODS will reduce year on year over the next few years. Assuming an average life of
