AVAILABILITY OF R-22
The Clean Air Act does not allow any refrigerant to be vented into the atmosphere during installation, service, or retirement of equipment. Therefore, R-22 must be:
• Recovered and recycled (for reuse in the same system)
• Reclaimed (reprocessed to the same purity levels as new R-22)
• Destroyed
After 2020, the servicing of R-22-based systems will rely on recycled refrigerants. It is expected that reclamation and recycling will ensure that existing supplies of R-22 will last longer and be available to service a greater number of systems. As noted earlier, chemical manufacturers will be able to produce R-22 for use in new air-conditioning equipment until 2010, and they can continue production of R-22 until 20,20 for use in servicing that equipment. Given this schedule, the transition away from R-22 to the use of ozone-friendly refrigerants should be smooth. For the next 20 years or more, R-22 should continue to be available for all systems that require R-22 for servicing.