Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) MVAC Certification

Who is responsible for ensuring refrigerant recovery before final disposal of equipment?

1. The service technician

2. The equipment owner

3. The final person in the disposal chain

4. The state environmental agency

The correct answer is: The final person in the disposal chain

The responsibility for ensuring refrigerant recovery before the final disposal of equipment primarily falls to the final person in the disposal chain. This is because the final disposal entity is typically in charge of handling the equipment once it is no longer in service. They must comply with regulatory requirements, including proper refrigerant recovery, to minimize environmental impact and adhere to federal laws, such as those established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While service technicians play a crucial role in the recovery of refrigerant before equipment is dismantled, they are not always involved in the final disposal phase. The equipment owner may also have responsibilities related to the maintenance and safe disposal of their appliances, but the ultimate accountability rests with the final person or facility that disposes of the equipment. State environmental agencies may enforce regulations, but they do not directly carry out the recovery process. Thus, it is the final person in the disposal chain who must ensure compliance with all necessary protocols regarding refrigerant recovery.