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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD)
program is a partnership launched in October 2006 to protect the ozone layer, cut greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, and benefit communities. The RAD program recognizes partners that
commit to collecting and disposing of old refrigerated appliances using the best environmental
practices available and going beyond what is required by federal law.
The RAD program invites utilities, retailers, manufacturers, state and local governments,
universities, and other qualifying organizations to become partners. The RAD program also
invites states to become RAD affiliates to promote the program to potential partners and
increase environmental benefits for their states and communities.
•'	»i

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What Is RAD?
In 2015, an estimated 12 million refrigerators and freezers,
9 million window air conditioning units, and 2 million
dehumidifiers were disposed of in the United States. These units
contain ozone-depleting substances (ODS), hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs), hazardous substances, and recyclable materials.
EPA requires recovery of ODS and HFC refrigerant prior to
appliance dismantling or disposal. Federal law also requires proper
management and storage of universal waste (e.g., mercury),
used oil, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) prior to appliance
disposal or recycling. However, federal regulations do not require
the recovery of appliance foam, which contains substances that
are potent GHGs and that may, depending on the vintage of
the unit, deplete the ozone layer. Further, up to 25% of disposed
refrigerators/freezers are resold onto the secondary market;1 the
continued use of these older, less efficient models demands more
energy from the nation's grid.
Partners in EPA's RAD program commit to collecting used
refrigerated appliances and implementing best practices for the
disposal of these units that go beyond federal laws. This means:
s Recovering appliance foam
Complying with laws on the recovery of refrigerant, used oil,
mercury, and PCBs
S Promoting recycling of all durable goods
S Promoting the permanent retirement of old, inefficient
appliances to save energy
As a result of their commitments, partners prevent emissions of
ODS and GHGs, save landfill space through recycling, reduce energy
consumption, and prevent the release of hazardous substances.
RAD partners achieve these benefits with the help of an appliance
recycler who uses best environmental practices (see figure).
'Based on studies published by Cadmus Group, Innovologie, NMR Group, and the
U.S. Department of Energy.
This annual report presents RAD partners'
environmental achievements for 2015
CONSUMERS
Refrigerators
Freezers
Window Air Conditioners
Dehumidifiers
RAD PARTNERS
Retailers
Utilities
Local Governments
Manufacturers
Other
APPLIANCE RECYCLERS
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Foam
Refrigerant'
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Metals, Plastics,'
Glass
PCBs, Used Oil,'
Mercury
Reclamation
Destruction
Reclamation
Destruction
	~ Recycling
.Proper
'Disposal
BENEFITS
Prevents Emissions of
ODS and GHGs
Prevents Release of
Hazardous Substances
Saves Landfill Space
through Recycling
Reduces Energy
Consumption
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RAD Partners and Affiliates
In 2015, RAD partners achieved nationwide coverage servicing 50 states
plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This included the addition
of three new partners—one utility, one independent appliance retailer, and
the Program's very first state partner. RAD's coverage is an impressive
accomplishment, especially in light of the unexpected market changes
in 2015—namely the depression of the scrap metals recycling market
and the closure of one of the largest appliance recycling companies that
supports RAD partners, JACO Environmental, Inc. Despite these changes,
most RAD partners have found alternate means to continue recycling
appliances the "RAD way."
Map of RAD Partners and Affiliates
States with 0 RAD Partners
States with 1 RAD Partner
States with 2 RAD Partners
States with 3 RAD Partners
States with 4 RAD Partners
States with 5 RAD Partners
States with 7 RAD Partners
States with 10 RAD Partners
New RAD Partners in 2015
	Liberty Utilities
Family owned and operated since 1955
Delaware Health and Social Services

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Meet the Recyclers that Support RAD Partners
RAD partners work with recyclers to ensure the proper recovery of foam from end-of-life refrigerated appliances. While each recycler
uses different methods for processing refrigerated appliances, all lead to significant ozone and climate benefits compared to business-
as-usual disposal practices.
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Founded in 1976, ARCA and ARCA Advanced Processing (ARCA-AP) have
facilities in 15 states (CA, CO, GA, IL, KY, MA, MN, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA,
TX, VA, WA). Ai! ARCA facilities use manual and semi-automated foam
processing methods, except for their Advanced Processing facility, which
uses fully automated foam processing methods. To learn more, visit:
www.ARCARecyclinglnc.com.
Photo Credit: ARCA-AP
ARCA's UNTI-IA Recycling Technology (URT) system (pictured above) can
process approximately one refrigerator per minute. The URT system has
processed approximately 380,000 refrigerators since 2011.
Founded in 2012, Recleim has a fully automated white goods and air
conditioning equipment advanced recycling plant in South Carolina,
including the only closed-loop foam processing line in the United States.
In addition, Recleim operates facilities in FL. IL, MD, NY, PA, Rl, and VA
that process non-refrigerant based appliances and act as hubs for the
transportation of appliances containing refrigerant and foam insulation to
the South Carolina facility. To learn more, visit: www.recleim.com.
Photo Credit: Recleim
Recleim's closed-loop Ad el ma nn recycling system (pictured above) is the
only one of its kind in North America. The Adelmann system is currently
being used throughout Europe as the standard for appliance recycling and
resource recovery.

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RAD Results
In 2015, RAD partners collected and processed a total of 810,190
refrigerant-containing appliances, representing an estimated 4%
of the total number disposed in the United States. This includes:
725,467 Refrigerators	3,250 Dehumidifiers
73,656 Stand-Alone
Freezers
7,817 Air Conditioning
Units
By disposing of these units using the best environmental
practices, RAD partners have helped reduce emissions of
ODS and GHGs by safely recovering significant amounts of
chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC),
and HFC refrigerants and foam-blowing agents, as shown in
the sidebar graph.
Partners have also helped to reduce energy use and avoid
the release of harmful substances to the environment.
These environmental benefits are described in more detail
on the following pages.
Refrigerants and Foam-Blowing Agents
Reclaimed or Destroyed by RAD Partners in 2015
Refrigerants
180,000
153,300
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Stratospheric Ozone Benefits
Older refrigerated appliances that were manufactured with ODS
refrigerants and foam-blowing agents are being retired and safely
disposed by RAD partners. In 2015, RAD partners avoided the release
of 143 ODP-weighted metric tons of ODS which otherwise would have
contributed to stratospheric ozone depletion.
Ozone depletion causes increased amounts of UV radiation to reach
the Earth's surface. Overexposure to UV radiation can cause a range of
health effects, including skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma),
premature aging of the skin and other skin problems, cataracts and
other eye damage, and suppression of the immune system.
While only some refrigerants and foam-blowing agents deplete the
ozone layer, all have high global warming potentials (see table below)
which contribute to global climate change, as discussed further on the
next page.
Characteristics of Gases Used as Refrigerants and
Foam-Blowing Agents in Appliances Reaching End-of-Life
Compound
Ozone Depletion
Potential (ODP)+
Global Warming
Potential (GWP)*
Predominant
Use in Appliances
CFC-11
1
4,750
Foam
CFC-12
1
10,900
Refrigerant
HCFC-22
0.055
1,810
Refrigerant
H CFC-141 b
0.11
725
Foam
HI 0-1.343
0
1,430
Refrigerant
HFC-245fa
0
1,030
Foam
+ ODPs:arebased'on values/provided in the Montreal Protocol.
*6WP'ca]culations arebased on the 100-year direct GWPs provided, in the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change: Fourth Assessment Report pQG7), which are relative to CO«
r
Ozone Layer on the Mend
Actions taken under the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer have
led to substantial decreases in the abundance
of ODS in the atmosphere. Although the "ozone
hole"—an annual thinning of the ozone layer over
the Antarctic—continues to occur each spring,
a near complete recovery is expected to occur
around mid-century.1 In 2016, for the first time,
researchers have found evidence that the ozone
hole is shrinking. Using measurements from
satellites, ground-based instruments, and ozone-
measuring weather balloons, a research team
showed that since 2000, the ozone hole shrunk by
4 million square kilometers—about half the area of
the contiguous United States.2'3
0 100 HKJ 300 400 500 600 700
Toial Qzoto (Dotoson units}
Image of the monthly-averaged total ozone oser the Antarctic pole in
September IS® as the Montreal Protocol was being signed (left} and in
September 2016 (right). The blue and purple colors represent areas with
the least 0201®;. and the yellow and fed colors represent areas with the
mostozone.
Photo'Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Ozone Hole Watch, September 2016.
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Climate Benefits
During 2015, RAD partners achieved a reduction of 1.3 million
metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTC02eq), which
is equal to the annual carbon emissions from the electricity
use of nearly 195,000 homes. Of this, 63% can be attributed
to reclaiming or destroying refrigerants, 27% to reclaiming
or destroying foam-blowing agents, and 10% to recycling
durable materials (which avoids the need to produce virgin
materials). Additional climate benefits are realized through
energy savings, as detailed on the next page.
In addition to CFCs and IHCFCs, RAD partners prevent the
release of HFCs. Like CFCs and HCFCs, HFCs are potent
GHGs commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners.
HFCs are rapidly increasing in the atmosphere mostly due
to increased demand for refrigeration and air conditioning,
particularly in developing countries, and because they are
the primary substitute for ODS being phased out under the
Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer. Recovering HFCs from appliances
at end-of-life can lead to significant climate benefits. During
2015, RAD partners recovered 114,000 lbs. of HFCs, avoiding
GHG emissions equivalent to nearly 11,000 homes' electricity
use for one year.
In 2015, RAD partners
achieved climate benefits equivalent to:
The carbon dioxide emissions
avoided by switching 47 million
incandescent light bulbs
to LEDs!
GHG Emissions Avoided through Proper
Appliance Disposal by RAD Partners in 2015
Durable Goods
Recycling 10%
1.3 million
MTC02eq
Refrigerant
Recovery 63%
Foam
Recovery 27%
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Energy Savings
RAD's utility partners are committed to ensuring that old, inefficient
appliances being disposed of by one household do not get reused by
other households. This reduces indirect GHG emissions associated
with the generation of electricity.
In total, RAD utility partners reduced energy use by 2.2 billion kWh
in 2015. These energy savings translate to climate benefits of
1.5 million MTC02eq and are estimated to have saved consumers
$307 million.
RAD utility partners achieve these savings by offering cash for old
appliances and/or rebates on the purchase of new ENERGY STAR
units, as part of demand-side management programs aimed at
reducing electricity use through energy efficiency and conservation.
In recent years, many of these utilities have joined forces with RAD
retailer partners that allow them to broaden their reach into consumer
appliance disposal channels. Together, these partners have made
impressive strides in collecting more units and saving an increasing
amount of energy.
Replacing a 15 year-old refrigerator with one that is ENERGY STAR certified
will sa®ea household more than 400 kWh/year-or about $50/year.*
Actual energy; and cost savings will vary by. equipment model and region.
These eStimatesafe-aonsefvative, EPA! ENERGY STAR 2015 Datalsook.
F!ip-Your-Fridge Campaign
ENERGY STAR'S Flip-Your-Fridge campaign encourages consumers to recycle old, inefficient refrigerators
and replace them with new ENERGY STAR certified models. Through this program, consumers save
energy, help protect the climate, and benefit from rebates available for purchases and recycling.
If all the old refrigerators in the United States were replaced with new ENERGY STAR certified models, it
would save more than a billion dollars in annual energy costs. The energy savings would power 800,000
homes and prevent 12 billion pounds of GHG emissions in just one year. For more information, visit:
https://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances/nows_time_flip_your_fridge_and_save.
V
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Environmental Benefits
for Communities
In 2015, 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:
¦	112 million lbs. of ferrous metals (e.g., steel)
5 million lbs. of non-ferrous metals (e.g., copper)
¦	17 million lbs. of plastic
3 million lbs. of glass
Toxic or hazardous materials properly handled:
58,600 gallons of used oil
¦	31,400 PCB-containing capacitors
¦	19,900 mercury-containing components
Environmental & Human Health Benefits
from Avoided Releases
If released into the environment, 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
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.
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Benefits Achieved Since Program Inception
Since its inception in October 2006, the RAD program has achieved significant benefits for our environment and community at large.
By working together to reduce emissions of ODS and GHGs, save energy, increase the recycling of durable goods, and ensure the
proper handling of hazardous substances, RAD partners have achieved the following cumulative impacts over the years:
6.5 million
refrigerated appliances
recycled the "RAD way"
^ 1.1 billion pounds of material
diverted from landfills
1,645 tons of ODS emissions
avoided
30.2 million MTC02eq of GHG
emissions avoided, equivalent to
the annual emissions of 6.4 million
passenger cars
628,000 gallons of used oil and
395,000 hazardous components
properly handled
22.8 billion kWh saved and $2.8
billion in consumer savings from
removing old units from the grid
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Addressing HFCs at Home
and Abroad
To reduce emissions of HFCs, EPA approves more sustainable
alternatives to ODS and restricts certain uses of the most
harmful HFCs. The table on the right provides information
on recent Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) actions
that impact new household refrigerators. For additional
information on EPA's SNAP program and actions that impact
refrigerated appliances, visit https://www.epa.gov/snap.
The U.S. government is also addressing HFCs through
public procurement of goods and services. In May 2016,
the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services
Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) published a final rule to amend the
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to procure, when
feasible, alternatives to high GWP HFCs. The final rule also
encourages improved refrigerant management and requires
contractors to keep track of and report on the amounts
of HFCs added or removed during routine maintenance,
service, repair, and disposal of government equipment,
appliances, and supplies containing 50 pounds or more
of HFCs.
In addition, various executive actions and private sector
commitments were announced by the White House in
2015, which are expected to reduce consumption of HFCs
by more than 1 billion MTC02eq through 2025. This is
equivalent to removing 210 million passenger vehicles from
the road for a year.
Recent SNAP Determinations that Impact
New Household Refrigerators*
Compound(s)
SNAP
Determination
Effective
Date
Foam-Blowing Agents
HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, HFC-
365mfc and blends thereof
Unacceptable
1/1/2020
Formacel Tl and Formacel Z-6
Unacceptable
1/1/2020
Methylal and FIF0-1336mzz(Z)
Acceptable
10/21/2014
Solstice™ 1233zd(E)
Acceptable
8/10/2012
Refrigerants
R-513A
Acceptable
7/16/2015
R-290 (propane)
Acceptable
5/11/2015
R-450A
Acceptable
10/21/2014
R-600a (isobutane)
Acceptable
2/21/2012
R-134a
Unacceptable
1/1/2021
*For a complete list of acceptable substitutes in household refrigerators and
freezers, visit https://www.epa.gov/snap/acceptable-substitutes-householcl-
refrigerators-and-freezers.
International Action on HFCs
On October 15, 2016,197 countries adopted an
amendment to phase down HFCs under the Montreal
Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda, committing to cutting the
production and consumption of HFCs by 80-85 percent
over the next 30 years. The ambitious phase down
schedule will avoid more than 80 billion MTC02eq by
2050—avoiding up to 0.5° Celsius warming by the end of
the century—while continuing to protect the ozone layer.
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Featured RAD Partner Activities
In 2015, RAD partners launched innovative promotions and campaigns to
collect refrigerated appliances and raise consumer awareness about safe
appliance disposal.
Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE):
Appliance Turn-In Events
In 2015, BGE's Smart Energy Savers Program held
three room air conditioner and dehumidifier turn-
in events in partnership with local community
organizations. Advertised through press releases,
social media, event calendar listings, and outreach to local organizations,
the events allowed customers to recycle up to two old, working room
air conditioners or dehumidifiers and receive a $25 reward per unit. BGE
collected over 350 units at these events! Moreover, the events were a
great opportunity to speak with customers about environmentally friendly
recycling, other ways to save energy and money, and the RAD program.
PacifiCorp: Refrigerator Recycling Campaign
Using cash incentives, PacifiCorp worked with retailers in 2015 through
its "See ya later, refrigerator"® program to collect and permanently
retire working, less efficient appliances, preventing their resale on the
secondary market. Over 95% of unit components and materials were
either recycled for beneficial uses or disposed of in an environmentally
responsible way.
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Delmarva Power, Pepco, and Southern
Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO):
New Target on Dehumidifiers
In 2015, Delmarva Power, Pepco, and SMECO added
dehumidifiers to their appliance
recycling programs for the first time.
Customers who opted to recycle a
dehumidifier with a refrigerator or
freezer were eligible for an additional
$25 incentive. To accommodate
the influx of qualifying appliances,
the utilities worked side by side
with Sears—a RAD retail partner-
to schedule appliance pick-up
appointments from consumers' homes.
GE Appliances (GEA): RAD Recruiting
and Promotion
In 2015, GEA referred a family-owned independent
retailer, Spichers Appliances, to the RAD program.
Spichers Appliances has three stores with locations in
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. GEA's recruiting
efforts demonstrate their leadership and commitment to
expanding RAD's reach. GEA also promoted RAD through
press releases and press events for their customers,
as well as marketing materials that communicate the
benefits of RAD.
Partners Meet to Exchange Best Practices
In August 2015, RAD Partners met to exchange best practices for multifamily appliance recycling programs. Partners had the
opportunity to learn from the experiences of two RAD utilities, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E),
in regards to program design and benefits. PSE and SDG&E described key lessons learned for meeting participants, including
building appropriate marketing strategies and leveraging partnerships for effective programs.
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Meeting the Challenges
of Today's World
As illustrated in the sidebar figures, RAD partners have
historically processed appliances that primarily contain ODS
refrigerants and foam-blowing agents. In recent years, RAD
partners have begun to collect and process an increasing
number of HFC-containing appliances. In fact, since 2012, the
number of appliances containing HFC refrigerant has increased
by nearly two times, while those containing HFC foam has
increased by seven-fold. The number of HFC-containing
appliances entering the disposal stream will continue to increase
in the coming years, as the stock of older CFC and HCFC units
decreases and more HFC units are retired. As global efforts
increasingly focus on reducing emissions of HFCs and other
greenhouse gases, RAD partners can be seen as proud leaders
in climate protection at home and abroad.
In 2016, if foam were properly recovered from all
12.3 million refrigerators disposed in the United States,
8.6 million MTC02eq would be avoided; that's equal to the
electricity use of nearly 1.3 million homes for
one year!*
*U.S. EPA estimate, assuming 5% blowing agent recovery loss.
RAD Appliances Collected by Refrigerant Type
100%
80% H
60%
40%
20%
2012
2013
2014
2015
HFC ¦ ODS
RAD Appliances Collected by Foam Type
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
2012
2013
2014
2015
HFC ¦ ODS
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&EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Stratospheric Protection Division (6205J)
EPA-430-R-16-007
www.epa.gov/rad
December 2016
©
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper
with a minimum 50% post-consumer waste
using vegetable-based inks.
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