International.
A report published by Navigant Consulting indicates that there are different regulations and programs to reduce refrigerant emissions and promote refrigerant recycling, but measuring the rigor of application and effectiveness is difficult.
Some countries, such as Australia, Japan, and those in the European Union rely on robust regulatory frameworks that control coolant from cradle to grave. Others, such as Canada and the U.S., pair volunteer programs with less comprehensive regulations.
Among the findings of this report, Japan stands out for destroying the largest tonnage of refrigerants per year, destroying more refrigerant than most programs have since their inception. Japan has also seen a 1.8 percent increase in annual recovery of refrigerant from commercial equipment since 2006.
For its part, Reclaim Australia Refrigerant (RRA) recovers between 35% and 61% of refrigerant, which is almost all destroyed. The UK has the highest reported rate of recovery with estimates of 65-92% depending on end use.
