Halocarbon Management in Quebec

Halocarbons are gases mostly used as refrigerants in heat transfer systems, for cooling in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, and for heating in heat pumps. However, several of these gases, when released in the atmosphere, deplete the ozone layer and increase global warming. Therefore, the Montreal protocol, and the Kigali amendment afterwards, were ratified by most of the countries in the world, with the objective to better control these gases and reduce their impact on the environment. Following these protocols, the management of halocarbons is framed with a strict regulation in Quebec, where the exploitation of the most dangerous gases and the voluntary emission in the atmosphere of other halocarbons is forbidden. At the end of life of devices working with such gases, the owners have the obligation to hire a specialized company to recover these gases. These companies can then treat the gases, to be able to use them again, or destroy them.