Appliances with refrigerant (window and through-wall AC, mini-splits, refrigerators, dehumidifiers)
New York City · checked on November 6, 2026
The rules for a business
The rules for a business:
- Businesses must hire private carters, and a business that books it can get a Notice of Violation.
- “Some newer appliances contain R600a or R32 refrigerant, which we CANNOT collect.” — CFC Removal — DSNY
- It is illegal to vent refrigerant on purpose while servicing, repairing or disposing of AC or refrigeration equipment.
- “The final person in the disposal chain (such as a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner) is responsible for ensuring that refrigerant is recovered from equipment before its final disposal.” — Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements — US EPA
- If you bring in a unit that's already been emptied, the recycler must keep your signed statement: who recovered the refrigerant, their address, and the date.
- “must have refrigerant recovered in accordance with EPA's requirements for servicing prior to their disposal” — Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements — US EPA
Not for contractors: household-only routes, never a place to take a job's waste.
- DSNY SAFE Disposal Events: residents only, no businesses or commercial vehicles. “NOTE: These events are for NYC residents ONLY. NO businesses or commercial vehicles.” — SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY
- “Appointments made by a business may result in a Notice of Violation.” — CFC Removal — DSNY
- DSNY CFC/Freon removal appointment (curbside): households only (“Service is available for residents ONLY.”, CFC Removal — DSNY)
- SAFE Disposal Events: households only (“NOTE: We DO NOT accept plug-in appliances (microwaves, vacuum cleaners, box fans) or ones containing CFCs.”, SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY)
Not settled by the official pages:
- Whether a window unit or a household fridge must be emptied by a certified technician before disposal was not confirmed here: EPA's rules for small appliances going for disposal differ from its servicing rules.
- EPA's examples do not say whether a removed ductless mini-split counts as equipment taken apart on site or as equipment that goes into the waste stream whole, so which rule applies was not confirmed.
- No official list was found of city businesses that recover refrigerant from appliances a contractor brings in.
The official words on it (10 quotes)
- “Service is available for residents ONLY. Businesses must hire private carters to dispose of CFC appliances. Appointments made by a business may result in a Notice of Violation.” — CFC Removal — DSNY, no date on the page
- “Some newer appliances contain R600a or R32 refrigerant, which we CANNOT collect.” — CFC Removal — DSNY, no date on the page
- “prohibit individuals from intentionally venting ozone-depleting substances (ODS) or their substitutes while maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment” — Stationary Refrigeration — Prohibition on Venting Refrigerants — US EPA, no date on the page
- “The final person in the disposal chain (such as a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner) is responsible for ensuring that refrigerant is recovered from equipment before its final disposal.” — Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements — US EPA, no date on the page
- “The signed statement must include the name and address of the person who recovered the refrigerant, and the date that the refrigerant was recovered.” — Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements — US EPA, no date on the page
- “must have refrigerant recovered in accordance with EPA's requirements for servicing prior to their disposal” — Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements — US EPA, no date on the page
- “NOTE: These events are for NYC residents ONLY. NO businesses or commercial vehicles.” — SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY, no date on the page
- “Appointments made by a business may result in a Notice of Violation.” — CFC Removal — DSNY, no date on the page
- “Service is available for residents ONLY.” — CFC Removal — DSNY, no date on the page
- “NOTE: We DO NOT accept plug-in appliances (microwaves, vacuum cleaners, box fans) or ones containing CFCs.” — SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY, no date on the page
Places that take it from a business (1)
Call ahead before you go: what each place takes, from whom and when can change.
Across the city (1)
- Licensed scrap metal processors (see the metal list) · from a business: Depends (“The final person in the disposal chain (such as a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner) is responsible for ensuring that refrigerant is recovered from equipment before its final disposal.”) · Under EPA rules the scrap recycler is the 'final person in the disposal chain'. Expect it to ask for proof the refrigerant was recovered (a signed statement) or to charge for recovering it. · source: Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements — US EPA · checked on: November 6, 2026 · Call ahead
Confirm with each place before you go: call ahead.
Sources
Every page quoted (4 pages)
- CFC Removal — DSNY — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
- Stationary Refrigeration — Prohibition on Venting Refrigerants — US EPA — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
- Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements — US EPA — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
- SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
This is a plain-words summary of official city and state pages as of November 6, 2026, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and have exceptions: confirm with the departments named on this card before you start or bill.