Proposed Amendments to the Regulation for Small Containers of Automotive Refrigerant

Protection of the environment (TBT); Cost saving and productivity enhancement (TBT)

Automotive refrigerant; Environmental protection (ICS code(s): 13.020); Air quality (ICS code(s): 13.040); Barrels. Drums. Canisters (ICS code(s): 55.140); Refrigerants and antifreezes (ICS code(s): 71.100.45)

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8703 - Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of <10 persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702)

13.020 - Environmental protection; 13.040 - Air quality; 55.140 - Barrels. Drums. Canisters; 71.100.45 - Refrigerants and antifreezes

In 2009, CARB approved for adoption the Regulation for Small Containers of Automotive Refrigerant (Regulation) as a discrete early action measure to reduce HFC-134a refrigerant emissions from Do-It-Yourself motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) servicing. The emission reductions are primarily achieved through two key regulatory requirements: a mandatory self-sealing valve and a deposit and return program. The Regulation was amended in 2016, clarifying the requirements for properly utilizing unclaimed deposits and expanding the scope of the enhanced education program.Upon initial adoption of the Regulation, staff projected the quantity of refrigerant remaining in small containers upon return to be 22 percent of the container volume. After implementation of the Regulation, staff determined the actual amount remaining to be approximately 4 percent, resulting in lower emission reductions from the deposit and return program than originally estimated. Container manufacturers launched an enhanced education program from midway of 2018 through 2020, with the aim of increasing the container return rate. However, return rates showed little change.Due to the low HFC-134a emission reductions from used container refrigerant recovery, unchanged return rates, and financial impacts to do-it-yourselfers, staff is proposing to remove the deposit and return program. In addition, staff is proposing requirements that reclaimed refrigerant be used in the manufacturing of small containers of automotive refrigerant sold in California to compensate for the emission reductions currently achieved by the deposit and return program. Revisions to the expenditure of unclaimed deposits will be aimed at MVAC repairs and increasing refrigerant recovery and reclamation in California.

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