i forgot to tell you guys

My yard doesn't take fridges anymore even if they've been gutted too many people just cutting the lines a few people ruin it for the rest.So should I just cut it up?

Hunter and Scrapper, first I will apologize for my response in one of your previous threads. More information will be posted there in the near future.

Do not believe they are not accepting refrigerators because they believe some people are releasing Freon into the atmosphere. It is a business decision because it is not worth their time for the investment. Otherwise they would require a certificate of removal and also ban cars because people can cut those lines as well. Most scrappers do not have a Freon removal system, (I do because of posts by Freon Joe) and it costs between $ 15 and $ 25 for someone in this area to do it. Scrap yards know this. Most yards post signs that say it is a $ 10,000 fine and time in prison for cutting lines to cover their a**.

Admiral Aluminum offered a great idea, if you are inclined to take his suggestion. To show my sincerity for my apology, an idea will be offered. I save the Freon and sell it separate. That will not be as big a money maker for you as the next tip. Being in Wisconsin you deal with the cold. Cut a hole in the bottom and have one of your artistic friends paint it. I sell them as dog houses and the reason the hole is cut in the bottom is that it allows the owner to plug them in and turn on the light bulb. Minor modification is needed, but the light bulb provides enough heat during the worst night for a dog. A waiting list has been created here and more refrigerators are needed. The same strategy can be used with freezers, but the light bulb has to be added.

Now you can take this idea to your teacher friend, if they love animals to call a truce. Good luck.

New to this board but old to the scrap business. The penalties to a yard are ginormous (not to use a technical term) check this out

Metal Dynamics Agrees To Settlement With
United States To Reduce Pollution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2014
A Detroit scrap metal and iron recycling company has agreed to pay a $110,000 penalty and invest $400,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Clean Air Act, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
Joining McQuade in the announcement was Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 Administrator, Susan Hedman.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Environmental Protection Agency against Metal Dynamics alleging that its facility on Lonyo Avenue in Detroit was releasing harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the environment. CFCs cause ozone depletion and have harmful effects on human health.
Under the settlement, Metal Dynamics agreed to implement a Clean Air Act compliance program at its facility to eliminate the harmful release of CFCs. Metal Dynamics also agreed to modify its torch cutting of metals to keep harmful particulate emissions at or below legal limits.
The settlement requires Metal Dynamics to pay a civil penalty of $110,000 and spend at least $400,000 on two environmental projects to help mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution. First, the company will provide education and economic incentives to scrap metal suppliers to prevent unlawful venting of harmful gases. Second, the company will purchase a portable control device to recapture particulate matter during torch cutting operations.
“This settlement will protect the health of Detroit residents and ensure cleaner air for future generations,” McQuade said. “We applaud Metal Dynamics for agreeing to invest in programs that will improve air quality in Detroit.”
“This settlement will help to preserve the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful radiation,” EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman said. “Metal Dynamics will also take steps to improve air quality in a community that has been disproportionately impacted by environmental contamination.”
Metal Dynamics did not admit any of the violations alleged by the government, but agreed to the compliance provisions, and to invest in the two innovative environmental projects.

The settlement was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and will be subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. It can be viewed at and will appear in the Federal Register. Comments can be directed to Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, with reference to United States v. Metal Dynamics Detroit, LLC, D. J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-10192.

All the epa has to find is units in a yard without proof of legal freon disposal and they can act ..kind of a legal game of hot potato with the last holder of the unit liable. I have operated a scrapyard since 1985 and owned one since 2000 (thanks dad sure do miss ya) just talking from my own experience.

I have my uncle remove it I don't ask how he does it I just have him do it

Here I would say 80% of yards will not take any appliances which contained Freon. I myself got my Universal license, a yellow jacket recovery unit off CL, and inherited a manifold from my step dad. I then had to fill out paperwork with my license info, and also my recovery unit info, and I can now bring the fridges and HVACS I come across in. So, I would definitely say it has to do with the Freon rather than the metal recovery in them that they aren't accepting them.

I wouldn't recommend cutting it up. Reason being - the yard workers are aware of almost all refrigerant containing items and what they look like... cutting it into smaller pieces wont change the fact that its still a fridge and they still wont accept it. Before I got my license I took in a stack of these drainage pan things along with the fan housing for some HVACS... basically the metal housing without any innards.... the guy immediately came over and said they still wouldn't take it since it was a part of an HVAC unit. I politely apologized, asked what I should do, and that was when he told me of the yard across town which still did accept them. BTW his words were "I know XYZ recycling Is still taking them ... until they get caught that is..." Im assuming that means something along the lines of what zay posted

Now, if someone has got the HVAC license and all the gear to reclaim freon etc, in all its grades AND all the proper paperwork.....
Whats it likely to co$t?

But, once you do have all the red tape done.... I'd expect that you have 95% of the 'freon market' covered AND people will be bringing you all those fridges, freezers, AC units and such.....
So, whats the likely $ return from that?

I see it as 'The next big thing' in scrapping.

Weirdly, no laws about it in little 'ol NZ.... Which is pretty much directly under the Ozone hole....

Your yard sounds like it is picky. If they don't want it take it elsewhere there is plenty of yards. Also I am sure your uncle is cutting the lines, maybe you should make him aware of the penalties, it wouldn't be good if he got fined 10k for cutting a line for you.

Depending on the costs, someday you may want to look into Freon removal. If nobody does it in your area, it's could be a lucrative service to offer.

The determining factor, of course, is the value of refrigerators and freezers. I don't know what they're worth offhand.

Originally Posted by armstrt8

Here I would say 80% of yards will not take any appliances which contained Freon. I myself got my Universal license, a yellow jacket recovery unit off CL, and inherited a manifold from my step dad. I then had to fill out paperwork with my license info, and also my recovery unit info, and I can now bring the fridges and HVACS I come across in. So, I would definitely say it has to do with the Freon rather than the metal recovery in them that they aren't accepting them.

I wouldn't recommend cutting it up. Reason being - the yard workers are aware of almost all refrigerant containing items and what they look like... cutting it into smaller pieces wont change the fact that its still a fridge and they still wont accept it. Before I got my license I took in a stack of these drainage pan things along with the fan housing for some HVACS... basically the metal housing without any innards.... the guy immediately came over and said they still wouldn't take it since it was a part of an HVAC unit. I politely apologized, asked what I should do, and that was when he told me of the yard across town which still did accept them. BTW his words were "I know XYZ recycling Is still taking them ... until they get caught that is..." Im assuming that means something along the lines of what zay posted

I stand corrected.

"i forgot to tell you guys" Thanks!

And that's all you can do, is cut it up if yards will not take it as is...