ODS Destruction in the United States and Abroad
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol), finalized in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). By joining, the Parties commit to phasing out specified ODS – chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride (CCU), methyl chloroform, methyl bromide, bromochloromethane, and hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs) – thereby reducing their abundance in the atmosphere and protecting the earth’s fragile ozone Layer. On 16th September 2009, the Montreal Protocol and its parent convention, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, became the first treaties in the history of the United Nations to achieve universal ratification.
While the global ODS phaseout is underway, a large amount of ODS is in equipment and products such as refrigerators and air conditioners (as refrigerant and foam blowing agent), foam contained in buildings, and fire protection systems and fire extinguishers, as well as in stockpiles held by countries and industrial and commercial users. Together these sources are referred to as ODS banks. ODS from these banks could be released to the atmosphere over time through slow leakage, catastrophic leaks, and venting, unless they are recovered and properly treated. While emissions from ODS banks are not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, many countries including the United States have voluntary or regulatory requirements to reduce emissions of ODS at the end of the useful life of these equipment and products. After ODS are recovered and collected, destruction is one of several options that also include recycling or reclamation. When choosing whether to recycle, reclaim, or destroy ODS, factors that are considered include the cost of each option and the demand for reclaimed or recycled ODS (e.g., for servicing existing equipment).
This report discusses the sources of ODS for destruction in the United States and globally and the best practices for the safe, environmentally sound collection, recovery, transport, and destruction of these substances. In addition, the report identifies the technologies that are used to destroy ODS and the challenges associated with safe destruction of ODS. This report assesses the costs for the ODS waste management process and the primary funding sources for waste management projects. Historical and current destruction trends for the type and quantity of ODS destroyed in the United States, and other countries are analyzed based on available data. Projections of potentially recoverable ODS are estimated to illustrate the volume of available ODS from banks that could be available for destruction. Finally, parallels for collection and disposal of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are discussed.