The EPA ban on refrigerant cylinders is currently being challenged. Do you know the details? Read this post now to get caught up with what’s going on with the non-refillable refrigerant cylinders ban in the AIM Act.
EPA Cylinder Ban Overview
The EPA cylinder ban is found in the first rulemaking under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM) Act of 2020, otherwise known as the new HFC phasedown law in the United States, which phases down HFC refrigerants over the next 15 years.
In phasing down HFC refrigerants over the next 15 years, the AIM Act directs the EPA to address those HFCs in three ways:
- Phase down production and consumption
- Maximize reclamation and minimize releases from equipment
- Facilitate the transition to next-generation technologies through sector-based restrictions.
The first rulemaking under the AIM Act focuses on #1, phasing down production and consumption. Where it gets complicated, and what you might not be aware of, is the enforcement of that allowance allocation and trading system.
This is where the EPA ban on refrigerant cylinders comes into play. Yes, more specifically, there are certain provisions in this first rulemaking of the AIM Act that call for a ban on the use of nonrefillable refrigerant cylinders and require the use of electronic tracking of HFC containers. Otherwise known as the EPA cylinder ban.
These provisions—most notably, the EPA non-refillable cylinder ban—are currently being challenged by several industry groups, including ACCA, HARDI, among others.
What is the EPA’s cylinder ban?
Here’s a brief overview of what the EPA cylinder ban calls for and when. In essence, the EPA has established a two-stage approach for transitioning to refillable cylinders:
- Compliance date of January 1, 2025 — For importing or filling disposable cylinders
- Compliance date of January 1, 2027 — For prohibiting the sale and distribution of disposable cylinders
The EPA’s authority to prohibit disposable cylinders is currently being challenged. Several industry groups have filed a lawsuit to challenge the refrigerant cylinder ban and the QR code tracking requirement.
Oversight and Accountability Committee Requests Information from the U.S. EPA – February 2023
As of February 2023, this issue in the AIM Act has escalated. According to the CoolingPost.com, a United States House of Representatives committed has “requested documents and communications, as well as a staff-level briefing from the EPA, regarding its actions.”
Learn the Latest on the Disposable Cylinder Ban in my Next Refrigerant Briefing
If you guys were at my last Refrigerant Briefing at the 2023 AHR Expo, I discussed the cylinder ban issue. I will be posting that recorded version, soon. Please connect with me on LinkedIn to learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-ortlieb/.
Many HVAC-R stakeholders of all shapes and sizes are asking the question “What’s the EPA cylinder ban?” If you aren’t familiar with it now, you might want to get caught up, as this change could effect the industry for years to come.
We’re monitoring this one closely, and you can check back here to see the latest updates. Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below. Register for my next Refrigerant Briefing event.
We hope you found this blog article useful. At Alpyne Strategy, we’re leading industrial & HVAC marketing, PR, and public affairs. As you may already know, the refrigerant regulatory landscape is becoming more complex, and we are here to help you navigate these issues with custom solutions and strategies for your HVAC business.
Proudly family-owned and operated and headquartered in Murfreesboro, TN, Alpyne Strategy provides marketing solutions for the industrial world.
