The New Zealand government has introduced legislation to formally regulate the country’s product stewardship scheme for F-gases.
The Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants (TDSR) will lead the sector’s transition to one clear, trusted system before the regulated scheme – which covers every part of the refrigerant lifecycle onshore in New Zealand - begins on 1 April 2027.
TDSR chair, Richard Lauder, said the regulations turn years of voluntary action, industry partnership and preparation into a practical national framework for better recovery, handling, data and destruction.
“This is a proud moment for the Trust and for the many people across our sector who have helped build the foundations for this regulated product stewardship scheme for F gases,” Lauder said.
The first tranche of regulations require full participation from across the sector, enabling a full and comprehensive picture of the use of F-gases.
This includes mandated reporting of sales and distribution, refrigerant used in charging and degassing equipment, refrigerant collected for reclaim, destruction or export, along with establishing controls around destruction activity.
A second tranche of regulations will take effect from 2030. These will include new competency requirements for handling synthetic refrigerants to reduce emissions during use.
Over the past 33 years the Trust has been operational it has collected almost 700,000 kilograms of synthetic refrigerant for safe destruction, avoiding around 1.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, with a further 41,000 tonnes of ozone depletion potential avoided.
It has also paid more than $8 million in ‘bounty’ incentives to industry to recover end-of-life refrigerants.
“We have a clear purpose - reduce the environmental harm caused by synthetic refrigerants and make sure every part of the lifecycle works as it should,” Lauder said.
“These new regulations give New Zealand the platform to bring everyone into the system, set clear expectations and turn shared responsibility into measurable progress.”
Synthetic refrigerants are being phased out or phased down because of their impact on the ozone layer.
Discharges of these gases to atmosphere currently account for about 2% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
The regulated scheme, combined with technical progress in the sector, is expected to reduce emissions by an estimated 400,000 tonnes annually by 2030 and support New Zealand’s international climate commitments.
From 1 April 2027, businesses and technicians selling, handling or disposing of synthetic refrigerants will need to register with the scheme, meet compliance standards, and collect and report data to the Product Stewardship Organisation (TDSR).
This will give New Zealand its first comprehensive data and evidence-based picture of refrigerant flows, helping inform infrastructure investment, greenhouse gas reporting and the transition to lower-global-warming-potential technologies.
TDSR CEO, Janine Brinsdon, said the immediate priority is a smooth, practical transition for industry.
“We have now entered a new era for refrigerant stewardship in New Zealand, built on three decades of industry partnership, proven results and strong foundations,” Brinsdon said.
“The next six months are about putting that experience and capability to work alongside the sector so we can accelerate New Zealand’s efforts to address climate change and meet its international obligations.
“This is not regulation for its own sake. Bringing the whole market into the scheme will create a level playing field, with everyone operating to the same expectations," she said.
"Trusted data and stronger professional standards will support better environmental outcomes, while giving businesses the clarity and confidence to invest and prepare.”
Established in 1993, the Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants is a not-for profit organisation that works with industry to recover and safely destroy synthetic refrigerants.
Its mission is to reduce New Zealand’s global warming impact from synthetic refrigerant discharges by at least 90 per cent from 2018 levels by 2035.
Earlier this year the Trust opened the $10 million John Bowen National Refrigerant Destruction Facility in Kawerau, giving New Zealand onshore capability to destroy harmful refrigerants for the first time.