Recycling and Reclaiming
Two different words
Recycling cleans recovered refrigerant by passing it through oil separators, filters, and driers to remove moisture, acid, and particulates; the refrigerant stays in the field. Reclaiming reprocesses refrigerant to ARI 700 purity, verified by laboratory analysis, and is the only route that makes refrigerant resalable. Questions frequently blur the two.
Where each may go
Refrigerant that has only been recovered may be put back into the same appliance. Recycled refrigerant may be reused in equipment owned by the same owner, provided it is the same refrigerant type. Only reclaimed refrigerant may change ownership or be sold. A technician cannot sell recycled refrigerant to another company, and cannot move recovered refrigerant into a different customer's system.
The mixing trap
Blending two refrigerants in one recovery cylinder destroys the value of both. The mixture cannot be reclaimed to a specification and must be handled as waste. Always identify the refrigerant and use a dedicated cylinder.
Equipment and records
Recycling and recovery equipment must be certified to ARI 740 and maintained per the manufacturer's instructions. Keep records of refrigerant purchases, recovery, and disposal for at least three years.
Rule of thumb
Recover, then recycle to reuse in the same owner's equipment; reclaim to sell. If the cylinder is mixed, it is waste.