CCN readers have been quick to share their opinions on the introduction of the Destruction Incentives Program this week.
Since the program began on July 1, 2013, readers have been emailing with a myriad of questions about how it works and what it means for the future of the industry.
CCN will get a formal response to these questions from the federal government but in the meantime here is a roundup of your views.
Under the program refrigeration contractors receive $4.50 per kilogram for waste refrigerant gases collected for destruction.
The payment is a $1.50 a kilogram increase on the $3 per kilogram already received from
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA).
The increase is part of the Federal Government's Destruction Incentives Program for waste synthetic greenhouse gases (SGG) and ozone depleting (ODS) refrigerants.
It was introduced to encourage contractors to recover and return waste refrigerant for destruction in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to meet Australia's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol.
But according to Philip Giles of Rothfaze Air Conditioning and Refrigeration the incentive is an absolute joke.
"It means we get $45 for 10kg," he said.
"Today I was offered R22 at $145 per kilo plus GST that amounts to $1,595.
"Where is the incentive to destroy the older refrigerants?"
Small business owner Edward Jacob agreed that $4.50 per kilo offered little incentive.
He said the price paid should be at least $25 per kilo.
"The Labor Government has encouraged the refrigerant importers to inflate the price of refrigerants to the trade and therefore the trade should receive a more realistic price for returned refrigerants," Jacob said.
Other readers disagreed pointing out that if the government is going to use taxpayer funds as an incentive then it should also provide greater transparency.
Contractor Leon Pepamondous wanted to know how much additional refrigerant the government expects to recover for destruction with the additional $1.50 payment.
"Surely the government has done some estimates or they wouldn't be increasing the payment. I am curious to know how much more refrigerant will be destroyed so we can measure the value of the incentive," he said.
"I am interested because the refrigerant that is returned is usually gas that nobody wants; it has nothing to do with it being end of life.
"Governments don't just give away money there must be some figures available."
This view was also shared by the Australian Refrigeration Association (ARA), an organisation that was able to get some answers from the government.
ARA president Tim Edwards put forward a list of questions adding that the government "did not explain in any detail the logic for its decision."
The ARA did ask about the volume of refrigerant likely to be recovered and also what is likely to happen in this area after 2015.
While the government wasn't clear about volume, it did say that from July 1, 2015 a further destruction incentive which will increase the total amount paid for the destruction of SGGs to 70 per cent of the equivalent carbon price (where the gas species is verified) will be made available.
"The government's incentives program is intended to operate in addition to existing and future industry operated destruction programs," the government said.
"Currently the RRA is the only industry operated program. This program does not affect the ability of RRA to continue to fund and operate the existing recovery program.
"The department is open to partnering with RRA and other destruction providers to deliver the program."