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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1203 ..

MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO 397

Chlorofluorocarbon Gases - Disposal

On 8th April 1997, Mr Wood MLA asked the Minister for Urban Services the following questions:

(1) Is it the case that the Government requires that CFC gases in old refrigerators be specially disposed of?

(2) If so, can you explain why people, who claim to be authorised by the Government to collect junk, openly puncture and release gases when gathering refrigerators at Mugga Lane landfill recently?

(3) What action will you take to ensure that these illegal activities do not recur?

Mr Kaine - the answer to the Member's question is as follows:

(1) ACT requirements in relation to CFC gases are consistent with those of the National Strategy for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Under the strategy, there is no requirement for CFC gases to be recovered from discarded domestic refrigerators. The reason for this is that there are generally only small amounts of CFC gases left in old refrigerators. The ACT position is consistent with current and proposed NSW legislation. The exposure draft of the NSW Ozone Protection Regulation 1997 released for public comment earlier this year specifically exempts domestic refrigerators from the provision requiring special disposal (proposed regulation 35(3)(c)).

(2)/(3)While it is not cost-effective environmentally for CFCs to be recovered from discarded domestic refrigerators, there may be some commercial potential for a recycling operations at landfills to recover CFCs from these refrigerators, as recovered CFC gas does have a commercial value. Although the small quantities involved may mean that recovery is not cost effective from a commercial as well as an environmental point of view, this possibility will nevertheless be brought to the attention of recycling operators at landfills for them to make an assessment.

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