A new scheme to control refrigerant gases in New Zealand will be introduced by the Ministry for the Environment by mid-2027. It will cover gases used in heat pumps, air conditioners and commercial refrigeration units. The aim is to reduce harmful greenhouse gases that can escape into the air through leaks or poor disposal.
The gases are called hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs. They are synthetic refrigerant gases and are among the most powerful greenhouse gases. Although they make up about 2 percent of New Zealand’s total emissions, much of this pollution can be avoided if the gases are handled carefully.
The scheme will be run by the Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants. The trust has recently invested $10 million in a plant in Kawerau, so the gases can be destroyed in New Zealand instead of being sent overseas. Since 2010, the trust’s voluntary scheme has helped prevent 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Trust chair Richard Lauder said the new scheme is not expected to add a direct cost for suppliers or customers. The trust can earn carbon credits by destroying the gases and then sell those credits to help pay for its work. It also pays $40 for each kilogram of gas brought in for disposal, which gives people another reason to hand the gases in safely.
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