R507A disposal: servicing ban and what to do with your gas
Since 1 January 2025, virgin R507A may no longer be used to top up or service refrigeration equipment. Reclaimed or recycled R507A remains allowed until 1 January 2030, after which that is banned too. Recovered R507A is therefore in demand as feedstock for reclamation now: Gaia Cooling collects it and makes sure it reaches a licensed reclamation plant.
- GWP
- 3985
- Type
- HFC blend
- Destination
- Reuse after reclamation
What applies to R507A
- 2020
Servicing refrigeration equipment with a charge of 40 tonnes CO₂ equivalent or more (for R507A, from about 10 kg) with virgin R507A is banned. New refrigeration equipment using R507A may no longer be placed on the market, except for applications below -50 °C.
- 2025
The ban on virgin R507A now applies to all refrigeration equipment, whatever the charge size. Top-ups are only allowed with reclaimed or recycled R507A.
- 2030
From 1 January 2030, reclaimed and recycled R507A may no longer be used to service refrigeration equipment either. The only exceptions are military equipment and applications that cool products below -50 °C.
R507A is mainly found in low-temperature refrigeration: cold stores, freezer rooms, industrial refrigeration and food processing. It was widely used as a replacement for R502.
New systems usually use ammonia (R717) or CO₂ (R744), or a combination of both. Existing systems are sometimes converted to R448A or R449A, which also fall under the 2032 ban on virgin refrigerant with a GWP of 750 or more.
Offering R507A
We collect recovered R507A from installers, wholesalers and equipment owners. Collection goes through a licensed carrier, we handle the paperwork and we look at the price lot by lot. The gas goes to a licensed reclamation plant and returns to the market for systems that still need topping up until 2030.
Questions about R507A
Can I still top up R507A?
Only with reclaimed or recycled R507A, and only until 1 January 2030. Since 1 January 2025, virgin R507A may not be used to service refrigeration equipment, whatever the charge size.
What happens to R507A systems after 2030?
From 1 January 2030 they may not be topped up at all, not even with reclaimed gas. A system may keep running as long as it does not leak. After a leak, or a repair that needs a top-up, the only options left are conversion or replacement.
Can I put R404A and R507A in the same cylinder?
Better not. They are different blends, and a mix of the two is harder to reclaim and so worth less. Use a separate cylinder per gas type. If it is mixed anyway, we still take it. That may cost money, and you hear that upfront.
What sets the price for recovered R507A?
Every lot is different: gas type, purity, quantity and location set the price. We look at each lot separately and you know where you stand upfront. Because reclaimed R507A may only be used until 2030, recovered gas is in demand now and much less so later.