Recover
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Responsible Appliance
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Annual Report
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Recover Recycle Reclaim
EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD)
Program is a voluntary partnership program
that began in October 2006 to help protect
the ozone layer and reduce emissions
of greenhouse gases.The RAD Program
recognizes partners that ensure the disposal
of refrigerant-containing appliances using the
best environmental practices available.The
RAD Program invites utilities, municipalities,
retailers, manufacturers, universities, and other
qualifying organizations to become partners.
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Overview
Through the RAD Program, partners reduce
emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and
greenhouse gases (GHGs) by recovering appliance
foam and refrigerant.They also prevent the release
of hazardous materials, as well as save landfill
space and energy by recycling durable materials
(eliminating the need to produce virgin materials).
RAD partners achieve these benefits by using best
practices to dispose of appliances; namely, they
ensure that:
• Refrigerant is recovered and reclaimed or destroyed;
• Insulation foam is recovered and destroyed, or the blowing
agent is recovered and reclaimed;
• Metals, plastic, and glass are recycled; and
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, and used oil are
recovered and properly disposed of.
In addition, certain RAD partners also reduce energy
consumption by encouraging appliance owners to permanently
retire old, inefficient units. For example, many utility partners
offer a monetary reward for the pick-up of old, working
refrigerators/freezers.
The RAD Program results presented in this annual report are for
calendar year 2008.
^i
ual Report 2
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Recover Recycle Reclaim
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The Need for the RAD
Program
It is estimated that 9 million refrigerators/
freezers, 4.5 million air-conditioning units,
and 800 thousand dehumidif iers were
disposed of in the United States in 2008.
Because these appliances contain ozone-depleting
substances (ODS), greenhouse gases (GHGs),
hazardous substances, and recyclable materials,
their proper disposal is critical for environmental
and human health. Prior to disposal or recycling of
appliances, federal law requires that (1) all refrigerant
be recovered, and (2) universal waste (e.g., mercury),
used oil, and PCBs be properly managed and stored.
However, the laws do not require the recovery of
appliance foam, which represents a significant source
of ODS and GHG emissions.
Characteristics of Gases Used as Refrigerants
and Foam-Blowing Agents in Appliances
CO,
CFC-11
CFC-12
HCFC-22
HCFC-141b
HFC-134a
4,750
10,890
1,810
725
1,300
1
0.055
0.11
0
Foam
Refrigerant
Refrigerant
Foam
Refrigerant
GWP calculations for MFCs are based on the 100-year direct GWPs provided in the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Second Assessment Report (1995).
GWPs for CFCs and HCFCs are based on the 100-year direct GWPs provided in
The 2006 Assessment of the Scientific Assessment Pane/of the United Nations
Environment Programme's Ozone Secretariat
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RAD Partners
Results
Sixteen partners reported their accomplishments
for the RAD Program from January 1,2008 through
December 31,2008:
1. Austin Energy (TX)
2. Burbank Water & Power (CA)
3. City of Palo Alto (CA)
4. Commonwealth Edison (IL)
5. Fort Collins (CO)
6. Nevada Power & Sierra Pacific Power (NV)
7. Pacific Gas & Electric (CA)
8. PacifiCorp (ID, UT,WA)
9. PNM (NM)
10. Sacramento Municipal Utility District (CA)
11. Salt River Project (AZ)
12. San Diego Gas & Electric (CA)
13. Snohomish Public Utility District (WA)
14. Southern California Edison (CA)
15. Wisconsin Public Service (Wl)
16. Sears Home Services (Nationwide)
In 2008, the RAD Program's 16
partners collected and processed a
total of 505,956 refrigerant-containing
appliances, including:
• 418,223 refrigerators/freezers;
• 81,592 stand-alone freezers;
• 5,608 air-conditioning units; and
• 533 dehumidifiers.
By disposing of these units using the best available
practices, RAD partners have helped protect the
ozone layer, reduce GHG emissions, reduce energy
use, and increase recycling. The benefits of these
practices are described in the following pages.
Partnering with the RAD Program
ensures that we are using the
best environmental practices
available, which is important to us
as well as our customers."
-Bobbi Fey, Wisconsin Energy Conservation
Corporation Program Manager for the Wisconsin
Public Service Co. ApplianceTurn-ln Program
2008 Annual Report 4
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Recover Recycle Reclaim
Refrigerants and Foam-Blowing Agents Reclaimed or
Destroyed by RAD Partners in 2008
250,000
200,000
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13 150,000
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0 100,000
DC
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Avoided by
Responsible Appliance Disposal
Ferrous Metal n
Recycling
4.7%
Other Durable
Materials Recycling
1.1%
Foam
Recovery
34.2%
Refrigerant
Recovery
59.9%
RAD partners disposed of 505,956 appliances in 2008;
this resulted in 1.25 MMTC02e* greenhouse gas emission
reductions, equivalent to approximately:
229,000 passenger 8,700 acres of forest
cars NOT driven for preserved from
one year deforestation
Source: EPA's Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator.
Available at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html.
*This does not include GHG emission reductions associated with early appliance retirement.
Climate Benefits
CFCs,HCFCs, and MFCs
contained in appliances are all potent
greenhouse gases.
In fact, these refrigerants and blowing agents have
direct global warming potentials (GWPs) up to
10,890—meaning that they are up to 10,890 times
more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide
(C02) on an equal mass basis. Therefore, recovering
these compounds, even in small quantities, can
result in significant climate benefits. In addition,
the recycling of durable materials from appliances
prevents indirect GHG emissions associated with
the generation of electricity, which would have
otherwise been needed to produce virgin materials.
During 2008, RAD partners achieved the reduction
of 1.25 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent (MMTC02e), which is equivalent to
approximately 229,000 passenger car emissions
for one year. Of this, 59.9% can be attributed to
reclaiming or destroying refrigerant, 34.2% to
reclaiming or destroying foam-blowing agents,
and 5.9% to recycling durable materials. Additional
climate benefits are realized through energy savings
detailed on the next page.
2008 Annual Report 6
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Recover Recycle Reclaim
Energy Savings
For utilities, appliance recycling
programs can be an important
component of a successful Demand
Side Management program.
Replacing old, inefficient refrigerated appliances
reduces the amount of electricity needed to power
them and, therefore, the amount of indirect GHG
emissions released. In 2008, appliance recycling
programs operated by the 15 RAD utility partners
covered a territory of 18.9 million households,
representing approximately 15% of U.S. households.
In total, RAD utility partners reduced energy use by
over 2.3 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) by removing
old refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and
dehumidifiers from the grid. These energy savings
translate to climate benefits of approximately
1.48 MMTC02e, and are estimated to have saved
consumers $283 million.
• Replacing an inefficient, 20-year-old refrigerator with
one that has earned the government's ENERGY STAR®
label will save a household roughly 700 kWh/year or
more—or about $70/year. *
• If a secondary refrigerator (e.g., in a basement or
garage) is removed and not replaced, households can
save about 1,200 kWh/year, or roughly $ 120/year. *
* Actual energy and costs savings will vary by equipment model and region.
These estimates are conservative and are based on national averages
(www.energystar.gov, http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs).
7 2008 Annual Report
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Other Environmental Benefits
In 2008, RAD partners further protected the environment
by keeping recyclable materials out of landfills and
ensuring the proper handling of hazardous waste, as
shown below:
Materials prevented from going to a landfill
• 72.6 million pounds of ferrous metals;
• 2.0 million pounds of non-ferrous metals;
• 9.8 million pounds of plastic;
• 1.6 million pounds of glass; and
• 1.1 million pounds of rubber.
Toxic or hazardous materials properly handled
• 1.2 million pounds of used oil;
• 8,191 pounds of PCB-containing capacitors; and
• 5,902 pounds of mercury-containing components.
If improperly handled, used oil can leak into groundwater and major
waterways and pollute drinking water sources. In addition to used oil,
appliances may contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals—namely
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from capacitors and mercury from
thermostatic switches. PCBs are regulated by EPA as toxic substances;
they may cause cancer and liver damage, and can have negative impacts
on the neurological development of children, the human reproductive
system, the immune system, and the endocrine system. Mercury is
toxic and causes a variety of adverse health effects, including tremors,
headaches, respiratory failure, reproductive and developmental
abnormalities, and potentially, cancers.
Metal, Plastic, and Glass
Casing/Refrigerator Shell
140 Ibs. Metal
20 Ibs. Plastic
3 Ibs. Glass
CFC-11
Foam Insulation
1.0 Ibs.
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Used Oil
vlay be contaminated)
0.5 Ibs.
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Mercury Switch
0.003 Ibs.
CFC-12
Refrigerant
0.5 Ibs.
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PCBs
(Capacitor)
Small Quantities
1
2008 Annual Report 8
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Recover Recycle Reclaim
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An EDISON INTERNATIONAL* Company
Water and Power
Partner Recognition
In return for their efforts, RAD partners
receive public recognition and technical
support from the U.S. EPA.
For example, in October 2007, EPA held a launch
event to induct the first retail partner to the RAD
Program. EPA has also issued several press releases
publicly recognizing new partners. All partners
are listed on the RAD website along with links to
each partner's website. Partners are also given
the opportunity to provide case studies of their
programs to showcase on the RAD website. In
addition, partners may use the RAD logo on their
websites and other outreach materials.
UTILITIES
Sierra Pacific
An Exelon Company
Nevada Power.
nevadapowfr.com
PACIFIC POWER
Let's turn the answers on.
Let's turn the answers on.
Responsible Appliance
^ Disposal Program
9 2008 Annual Report
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Maximizing RAD Benefits:
The Opportunity Is Now!
Of all refrigerant-containing appliances, those that contain
CFC refrigerant and/or foam pose the greatest threats to the
stratospheric ozone layer and climate systems.
Therefore, it is critical that efforts to properly dispose of appliances be
undertaken today, before the full stock of CFC appliances is retired, and this
opportunity to avoid harmful emissions is lost.
Ensuring the proper disposal of older appliances through the RAD Program
is a priority, but the importance of the program will continue for years to
come. Even new units being produced today contain high-GWP refrigerants
and foam-blowing agents that will lead to increased concentrations of
greenhouse gases if they are not properly handled at end of life.
Additional Information
To learn more, contact:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Stratospheric Protection Division
U.S. EPA(6205J)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
Tel: 1-800-296-1996
www.epa.gov/0zone/partnerships/rad/
2008 Annual Report 10"
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