Reclaiming used refrigerants and recycling insulation panels
An update on the new PROZON refrigerant reclamation plant in Poland explains that it uses two processes to separate mixtures and reclaim nearly 100% of used refrigerants (see Cooling Post). The facility was opened in October 2024 and according to PROZON is not found anywhere else in the world. The plant 4R (Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation, Reuse) has an innovative technology for the separation of refrigerant mixtures using an adsorption process for components of similar boiling points, and distillation for components with different boiling points. The new 4R plant consists of five projects under one roof:
- installation for the separation of refrigerant mixtures,
- regeneration line,
- laboratory,
- Academy of Alternative Factors,
- E-waste processing centre.
The adsorption technology used allows for the recovery of refrigerant mixtures that previously had to be disposed of. The new plant can process up to 200 tons of refrigerants per year, recovering and reusing nearly 100% of the material (Discover the 4R Plant: Innovating Refrigerant Recycling). This reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an additional 74,000 tons of CO₂ annually, and together with the existing recovery network, it will be possible to reduce CO₂ emissions by almost 400 thousand tonnes annually. The construction of the plant was part of the Refrigerants Life Cycle project, co-financed by the European Union under the LIFE program and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. In parallel, the RE_ELECTRO 4 LIFE project is being implemented, which extends the idea of recovery to the area of used refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment. This is another step towards a circular economy where nothing that is efficient should be wasted. More information is available about the Finalization of the Refrigerants LIFE Cycle Project.
Foam insulation panels:
A UK recycler has launched a UK-wide insulation panel recycling service to tackle one of UK construction’s most overlooked environmental problems: what happens to insulation at end of life. Construction is responsible for around 62% of all waste generated in the UK and roughly a third of everything sent to landfill, despite national targets to drive that figure close to zero. The new service gives contractors and facilities managers a compliant, direct-to-processor route for end-of-life insulation panels, helping to divert complex materials away from landfill and uncontrolled disposal. Panels collected from projects across the UK are processed through a specialist fridge recycling lines, where metal skins and insulation cores are separated and the gasses removed so that recyclable fractions can be recovered and hazardous components handled under strict environmental controls. The foam cores and blowing agents are treated in line with ozone depleting substance and climate regulations, rather than allowing gases to escape during demolition, burning or landfill. A clear audit trail is provided so contractors can evidence responsible management of one of their more complex waste streams and demonstrate progress against ESG and net zero commitments.
Source Company News and reported in pbctoday (planning and construction news)