is this wrong?

[hawks]

Additional incentive to recover refrigerant
From 1 July 2013, the Australian Government will provide an incentive to refrigeration contractors for the destruction of waste synthetic greenhouse and ozone depleting refrigerant gas returned to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia.
The incentive will increase the amount currently paid by Refrigerant Reclaim Australia by 50 per cent. The total incentive amount paid to contractors will change from $3.00 to $4.50 per kilogram of gas provided for destruction.
The government destruction incentive payment to contractors will encourage recovery and destruction of waste refrigerant gases. This prevents damage to the climate system and ozone layer that would occur if these gases were emitted into the atmosphere. Any reduction of emissions achieved through destruction will contribute to reducing Australia’s emission abatement commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
The Australian Government-funded incentive will be paid to refrigeration contractors through the Refrigerant Reclaim Australia collection network arrangements, based on the amount of refrigerant gas they provide for destruction. The Australian Government recognises the significant and important role that the existing industry scheme operated by Refrigerant Reclaim Australia has played in the destruction of synthetic greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances since its introduction in 1993.
As a further step in reducing emissions of synthetic greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances, the Australian Government will examine the potential for the introduction of a complementary product stewardship scheme for domestic refrigeration and air conditioning equipment with small gas charges – usually less than two kilograms, to reclaim waste gas, metals, plastics and hazardous materials for reuse or appropriate disposal.
The Australian Government has also provided additional funding to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to increase the compliance and enforcement of the legal requirements for those handling synthetic greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances to ensure these gases are not being intentionally emitted.
Please visit the department’s website for further information: http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosp...uction-program

[FreezerGeezer]

Apparently it is correct. The local Actrol had some fliers about it.
The way I see it, it's a good incentive for the honest companies. No good for the cowboys if you have to be properly licenced, registered & have good records to get the payment.

[assailant]

nothing to get excited about. the wholesale cost of new refrigerant has gone up astronomically and all you get for the return of the refrigerant is $4.50/kg? that doesnt even buy a coffee here.

the most frustrating thing for me is the fact we pay carbon tax on new refrigerant as though we have emitted the refrigerant, and its carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse effect, into the atmosphere when we have done no such thing.
the tax on refrigerant is predicated on 100% of all refrigerant being released into the atmosphere! we may as well vent it from now on because we have paid the tax to release it into the atmosphere like every other big polluter.

then we dont even get credited the carbon tax amount when we return refrigerant for destruction.

despicable labor government.

[hawks]

The scheme seems odd, because the customer who owns the refrigerant does not receive the $4.50 per kg.

The $4.50 per kg is paid to the contractor company that returns the refrigerant.

Also the service tech using his tools and license to recover the refrigerant receives nothing.

So how can the incentive scheme be applied, and work correctly, if the person performing the work recieves no incentive.

[monkey spanners]

Why not move to the uk where it costs £85 for a 10kg reco cylinder even if you only put a few grams in!

[Sumit]

Both Australian and UK govt. are trying their best to curb the amount of these harmful gases and refrigerant in the atmosphere.At the same time, its very disgusting to see that no such schemes are implemented in India (May be they exist on papers but not reality).Technicians here just release the refrigerant into atmosphere.Don't know where it will lead and I doubt that practise can be stopped in under developing nations in the coming few decades.

[hawks]

Apparently it is correct. The local Actrol had some fliers about it.

Is this the flyer:

http://refrigerantreclaim.com.au/wp-...crease_web.pdf

[hawks]

I contacted refrigerant reclaim australia last week and questioned them the following: who is by law entitled to the $4.50 payment.

They responded as follows, Quote: we pay the contractor and it depends what contract their is between the contrctor and the customer.

I then questioned, is their any law stating the contractor has to return all or some part of the moneys to the customer.

Answer I got:.......no

I then phoned the ACCC hoping for some clarifiction and Questioned them the exact same questions as above.

The ACCC responded as follows.

Quote: We do not deal in the ownership of items, you will need to seek legal advice on those matters.

[FreezerGeezer]

Is this the flyer:

http://refrigerantreclaim.com.au/wp-...crease_web.pdf

Yup, looks like it.