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Refrigeration Equipment and Appliance Disposal

Refrigeration equipment and appliances usually contain some type of refrigerant such as freon gas. In many cases, freon gas is considered a regulated hazardous material for disposal purposes. There are many types of freon, coolants and oils found in appliances. It is sometimes difficult to determine what kind of coolants and/or oils are in each device, so all are considered potentially hazardous.

There are four campus entities that handle the removal of refrigerants and oils, and each entity is responsible for a specific element of campus. The Hospital, Student Apartments, and Residential Living handle only their own refrigeration equipment. Plant Operations Heating and Ventilation (HVAC) and University Surplus and Salvage handle refrigeration equipment from other areas of campus.

Hospital

The Facilities and Engineering department at the University Hospital handles the removal of refrigerants and oils from equipment and appliances at the main hospital facility. Final disposition of this equipment is coordinated through Hospital operating protocol. The contact number is 801-581-2241.

University Student Apartments

University Student Apartments (USA) handles the removal of refrigerants and oils from equipment and appliances owned by and used for student apartment operations. Final disposition of this equipment is coordinated through University Student Apartment operating protocol. Contact USA at 801-581-8668.

Residential Living

Residential Living handles the removal of refrigerants and oils from equipment and appliances owned by and used for residential living facilities and operations. Final disposition of this equipment is coordinated through Residential Living operating protocol. The contact number is 801-587-0852.

Campus / HVAC / Surplus and Salvage

When disposing of refrigeration equipment or appliances through University Surplus and Salvage it is necessary to ensure that chemical, biological, or radiological storage appliances are clean and cleared as safe prior to request for disposal per departmental safety protocols. EHS 801-581-6590 will provide a certificate of cleanliness, when required, for chemical and biological substances. Radiological Health 801-581-6141 can provide a certificate for radiological substances. The second step is to prepare a retirement-transfer form per University Policy and Procedure 3-40. The third step is to coordinate removal of refrigerants and oils with the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) department. Cost to departments for this service averages between $75 and $150. Contact HVAC by calling the main Plant Operations number 801-581-7221 and asking for the HVAC shop.

It is the responsibility of the department that owns the equipment to prepare retirement-transfer forms and coordinate removal of refrigerants and oils with HVAC. It is also the responsibility of the department to pay for the removal of refrigerants and oils, and pay for delivery of equipment though campus orders to the respective departments providing service.

Once the equipment is empty of refrigerants and oils then either the Department or HVAC coordinates the transfer of equipment to University Surplus and Salvage - dependent on the location and disposition of the equipment. HVAC will recycle and reuse these refrigerants and oils when appropriate to do so. If the refrigerants and oils are not recyclable and are considered hazardous materials then HVAC coordinates disposal with Environmental Health and Safety.