Refrigerant recycling statistics are most consistently reported as reclamation statistics: material recovered from equipment, processed to meet purity specifications, and returned for use. EPA’s U.S. records show a long-running ozone-depleting-substance series in pounds and a newer HFC series in metric tons and carbon-dioxide-equivalent accounting.
Key Refrigerant Recycling Statistics
The most useful headline figures from the U.S. data are:
- In 2000, 11,853,651 pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerants were reclaimed in the United States under EPA Section 608 reporting.
- In 2022, 6,553,228 pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerants were reclaimed in the United States under EPA Section 608 reporting.
- In 2000, 7,094,995 pounds of HCFC-22 were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2022, 5,684,810 pounds of HCFC-22 were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2000, 1,548,734 pounds of CFC-11 were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2022, 328,949 pounds of CFC-11 were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2000, 1,679,526 pounds of CFC-12 were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2022, 65,621 pounds of CFC-12 were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2017, 2,309 metric tons of HFCs were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2023, 4,115 metric tons of HFCs were reclaimed in the United States.
- In 2017, reclaimed HFCs represented 4.9 million metric tons of CO2e in the United States.
- In 2023, reclaimed HFCs represented 8.8 million metric tons of CO2e in the United States.
- In 2017, U.S. HFC consumption was 290 million metric tons of CO2e under EPA regulatory accounting.
- In 2021, U.S. HFC consumption was 462 million metric tons of CO2e under EPA regulatory accounting.
- In 2022, U.S. HFC consumption was 253 million metric tons of CO2e under EPA regulatory accounting.
- EPA’s 2022 analysis described the gap between virgin regulated-substance consumption and reclamation as a ratio of over 40 to 1 in the United States.
- EPA reported that 2023 HFC reclaim was below the estimated 2029 service demand discussed in its AIM Act analysis.
Contents
- U.S. reclamation scale and definitions
- ODS reclamation trends by chemical
- HFC reclamation data and recent growth
- Reclaimed refrigerant climate impact
- Reclamation compared with HFC consumption
- Future HFC supply and the 2029 estimate
U.S. Refrigerant Reclamation Scale and Definitions
EPA’s “Refrigerant Reclamation Summary 2000–2022” reports 11,853,651 pounds of U.S. ozone-depleting-substance reclamation in 2000. The reported total was 7,714,769 pounds in 2001, 8,698,179 pounds in 2002, 6,679,226 pounds in 2003, and 10,044,324 pounds in 2004. EPA, Refrigerant Reclamation Summary 2000–2022
The later portion of the same reported series was 9,529,271 pounds in 2014, 9,513,028 pounds in 2015, 10,803,753 pounds in 2016, 10,599,844 pounds in 2017, and 9,445,656 pounds in 2018. It then measured 9,196,310 pounds in 2019, 8,340,862 pounds in 2020, 7,372,566 pounds in 2021, and 6,553,228 pounds in 2022. EPA, Refrigerant Reclamation Summary 2000–2022
These are reported reclamation totals, not a complete measure of all refrigerant recovered, recycled on site, or otherwise handled. EPA Section 608 data are reported by refrigerant reclaimers, and EPA notes that recovery, recycling, and reclamation are different activities; the primary series therefore should not be relabeled as an overall recycling rate.
For interpretation, the ODS table reports pounds by chemical and includes a combined total. EPA also notes that certain small-quantity ODS chemicals and some blends are excluded, so the series does not represent every possible refrigerant stream in the United States.
Ozone-Depleting Refrigerant Recycling Trends by Chemical
HCFC-22 accounts for much of the reported ODS reclamation in the supplied years. EPA recorded 4,320,103 pounds in 2001, 4,915,809 pounds in 2002, 4,356,619 pounds in 2003, and 7,231,013 pounds in 2004.
The HCFC-22 series later reached 7,823,982 pounds in 2014, 7,811,832 pounds in 2015, and 9,408,329 pounds in 2016. Reported reclamation then measured 8,680,022 pounds in 2017, 8,041,474 pounds in 2018, 7,821,260 pounds in 2019, 7,154,667 pounds in 2020, 6,274,644 pounds in 2021, and 5,684,810 pounds in 2022. EPA, Refrigerant Reclamation Summary 2000–2022
| Refrigerant | 2000 reclamation | 2014 reclamation | 2021 reclamation | 2022 reclamation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCFC-22 | 7,094,995 lb | 7,823,982 lb | 6,274,644 lb | 5,684,810 lb |
| CFC-11 | 1,548,734 lb | 812,357 lb | 384,528 lb | 328,949 lb |
| CFC-12 | 1,679,526 lb | 406,436 lb | 87,682 lb | 65,621 lb |
EPA reports that CFC-11 reclamation was 1,548,734 pounds in 2000, 812,357 pounds in 2014, 384,528 pounds in 2021, and 328,949 pounds in 2022. CFC-12 reclamation was 1,679,526 pounds in 2000, 406,436 pounds in 2014, 87,682 pounds in 2021, and 65,621 pounds in 2022. EPA, Refrigerant Reclamation Summary 2000–2022
The table compares reported reclaimer totals for selected chemicals and years. It does not convert the chemicals into a common climate metric, and it does not establish a recovery efficiency or a percentage of equipment charges reclaimed.
HFC Refrigerant Recycling Data and Recent Growth
EPA’s AIM Act analysis reports HFC reclamation separately from the ODS pound series. The HFC series measured 2,309 metric tons in 2017, 2,382 metric tons in 2018, 2,749 metric tons in 2019, 2,445 metric tons in 2020, 2,455 metric tons in 2021, 3,450 metric tons in 2022, and 4,115 metric tons in 2023. EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis Addendum
| Year | Reported HFC reclamation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2,309 metric tons |
| 2018 | 2,382 metric tons |
| 2019 | 2,749 metric tons |
| 2020 | 2,445 metric tons |
| 2021 | 2,455 metric tons |
| 2022 | 3,450 metric tons |
| 2023 | 4,115 metric tons |
The sequence shows a rise from 2017 through 2019, a lower reported amount in 2020, relatively similar totals in 2021, and higher reported reclamation in 2022 and 2023. That pattern describes the reported HFC reclamation series; it does not prove that all recovered refrigerant was reclaimed or that every recycling activity was captured.
Reclaimed Refrigerant Climate Impact Statistics
EPA also expresses reclaimed HFCs as carbon-dioxide-equivalent impact using its stated 100-year global-warming-potential accounting basis. These figures are not physical mass: they translate the climate-weighted effect of the reclaimed HFCs into metric tons of CO2e.
| Year | Reclaimed HFCs |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 4.9 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2018 | 5.1 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2019 | 5.5 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2020 | 5.0 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2021 | 5.0 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2022 | 7.2 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2023 | 8.8 million metric tons CO2e |
The EPA values were 4.9 million metric tons CO2e in 2017, 5.1 million in 2018, 5.5 million in 2019, 5.0 million in 2020, and 5.0 million in 2021. They were 7.2 million metric tons CO2e in 2022 and 8.8 million metric tons CO2e in 2023. EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis Addendum
The CO2e series should be read as a climate-impact accounting measure associated with reclaimed HFCs, not as a mass total. Because the source uses a 100-year GWP basis, another accounting basis could produce a different CO2e result.
Refrigerant Reclamation Compared With HFC Consumption
EPA reports regulated HFC consumption in million metric tons CO2e, which is a different measure from physical HFC reclamation in metric tons. Consumption is an EPA regulatory accounting measure and is not equivalent to equipment charge or emissions.
| Year | HFC reclamation | HFC consumption |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2,309 metric tons | 290 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2018 | 2,382 metric tons | 306 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2019 | 2,749 metric tons | 314 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2020 | 2,445 metric tons | 309 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2021 | 2,455 metric tons | 462 million metric tons CO2e |
| 2022 | 3,450 metric tons | 253 million metric tons CO2e |
EPA’s reported HFC consumption was 290 million metric tons CO2e in 2017, 306 million in 2018, 314 million in 2019, 309 million in 2020, 462 million in 2021, and 253 million in 2022. The source describes the 2022 gap between virgin regulated-substance consumption and reclamation as a ratio of over 40 to 1. EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis Addendum
The units differ, so the reclamation and consumption figures are not a direct mass-to-mass recycling rate. The stated ratio is a broad comparison, not a recovery efficiency, recycling percentage, or estimate of emissions avoided.
Future Refrigerant Supply and the 2029 Service-Demand Estimate
EPA reported that 2023 HFC reclaim of 4,115 metric tons was below the estimated 2029 service demand discussed in its AIM Act analysis. This is a forward-looking comparison: the 2023 value is observed reported reclamation, while the 2029 service-demand figure is an estimate rather than a measured future outcome. EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis Addendum
The comparison matters because reclamation data describe a potential secondary supply stream, while service demand describes a future need for refrigerant servicing. They should not be treated as identical quantities or as proof that a particular shortage, price, or adoption rate will occur.
EPA’s Section 608 dashboard describes reclamation data reported by reclaimers and provides measures in pounds, kilograms, and metric tons CO2e since 2000. EPA, Summary of Refrigerant Reclamation Trends
For readers tracking refrigerant recycling, the clearest baseline is therefore the reported reclamation series, separated by chemical and unit. The supplied EPA evidence supports a long ODS record through 2022, an HFC record through 2023, and a stated future-demand comparison for 2029, but it does not support treating those series as one universal recycling rate.