Returned cylinders and residual gas: what can you do?

The short answer: have them collected. With the Cylinder service we have the full cylinders collected by a licensed carrier, handle the paperwork and the gas goes to an accredited processor. We look at each lot separately, so you know where you stand upfront.

Why cylinders pile up

At installers and wholesalers, cylinders pile up for familiar reasons. Recovery cylinders are full, but disposal takes time and paperwork. Returned cylinders come back with residual gas inside. For some cylinders nobody quite knows what is in them any more. Meanwhile the rental keeps running and there is hazardous waste in the warehouse.

That residual gas adds up. A few kilos per cylinder, across dozens of cylinders, quickly becomes a sizeable lot of R404A, R410A or R134a. And since the servicing ban for gases with a GWP of 2500 or more, reclaimed R404A is in demand.

What you can do now

• •Sort by gas type where you know it. A cylinder holding one gas is worth more than a mixed one.
• •Never mix different refrigerants in one cylinder. Mixed gas usually cannot be reclaimed.
• •Label cylinders when filling them with gas type, date and origin.
• •If you are unsure what is inside, set the cylinder aside and let us know. We take it too.
• •Use only cylinders intended for recovered gas.

What sets the price

Every lot is different: gas type, purity, quantity and location set the price. Purity comes down to which gas is inside and how much moisture, oil or other refrigerant it contains.

• •Pure, single gas in its own cylinder: suitable for reclamation. This gets the best terms.
• •Lightly contaminated: usually still reclaimable, on less favourable terms.
• •Mixed or unknown: goes to separation or destruction and may cost money. You hear that upfront. Still disposed of correctly.
• •R22 and other ozone-depleting substances: may no longer be used for servicing and go to licensed destruction.

So we look at each lot separately and you know where you stand upfront. We only schedule collection once you agree. Our aim: disposal costs you as little as possible.

How the Cylinder service works

1. 01Tell us what you have: number of cylinders, gas type where known and estimated kilos.
2. 02We look at your lot and you know where you stand upfront. Need cylinders? Ask us and we'll see what we can do.
3. 03Once you agree, a licensed carrier collects the full cylinders, bundled into a fixed route, with waste stream number and consignment note.
4. 04The gas goes to an accredited processor for reclamation or destruction.
5. 05You receive the paperwork for your records. You keep buying new refrigerant wherever you buy it today.