Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
New guidance from GOV.UK:
Fluorinated gases and ozone-depleting substances: how to do business from 1 January 2021
From 1 Jan 2020 it affects both owners and the users of some commercial refrigeration units that contain F-gases, as F-gases are commonly used as the coolant in fridges and freezers. This includes from freezers used in medium size convenience shops to store frozen foods, through to large supermarkets’ large refrigeration plant on the shop floor and back of the shop storage.
The first thing to do is to check your refrigeration equipment.
Information on the label
You should have a label with information including:
The ban affects you if:
If you can’t find your equipment's label, then obtain this information from your service engineer or the manufacturer.
Exempted equipment
The F-gases ban does not apply to:
F-gases which have the strongest global warming effect (> 2,500) are banned, unless they are recycled or reclaimed from other old equipment. If your refrigeration equipment is affected, then, when it needs a top up of coolant, your service engineer will only be able to use F-gases that aren't banned.
Your refrigeration equipment might already use F-gas that is below the threshold. If so then the fridges or freezers can be topped up as usual and nothing changes.
If your fridges or freezers contain an F-gas with a strong global warming effect, and you are affected, then you can:
No. You should however find out if your equipment is affected, and this will allow you to plan for the future.
NetRegs has produced a short e-learning tool covering the main points of the 2020 refrigeration F-gas ban.
NetRegse-learning tools
What is the 2020 refrigeration F-gas ban?
Bans on new refrigeration equipment from 1 Jan 2022
Phase down of F-gases 2015 – 2030
Calculating the equipment charge as CO2 equivalent
Stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps: F-gas controls
Mobile air conditioning (cars and vans): F-gas controls
Solvent cleaning: F-gas controls
Producing and supplying fluids: F-gas controls
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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