The ACCC has decided to grant re-authorisation to enable Refrigerant Reclaim Australia to continue to operate a product stewardship program to recover ozone depleting and synthetic greenhouse gas refrigerants (the Refrigerant Gases). The program has previously been authorised by the ACCC and the current re-authorisation is for 10 years. Having regard to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia’s commitment to publish information the subject of the previous conditions of authorisation and having received no submissions from interested parties on this issue, the ACCC does not propose to reimpose these conditions.
Imported Refrigerant Gases are used in Australia in a wide variety of industrial, commercial and household applications involving refrigeration and air-conditioning. Refrigerant Reclaim Australia is a national not-for profit entity created by the Australian refrigerants industry. It operates an industry product stewardship scheme which involves agreements between competing importing firms, product manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors as to how used and unwanted Refrigerant Gases will be collected and disposed of. This includes agreements as to the levies paid by end users on Refrigerant Gases, which are used to fund rebates encouraging the proper collection and disposal of the Refrigerant Gases.
The ACCC considers that the conduct is likely to continue to result in public benefits from: a greater reduction in the uncontrolled release of Refrigerant Gases, pricing for Refrigerant Gases which better reflects the negative externalities inherent in their use, transaction cost savings, and economies of scale. The ACCC considers that the program has and is likely to continue to result in minimal public detriments.
Further information about the ACCC’s decision is available on the ACCC public register at: Refrigerant Reclaim Australia Limited.