P.M. BRIEFING : Process Captures CFCs During Refrigerant Repairs, Firm Says : Whirlpool Recaptures CFCs

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. —  Whirlpool Corp. announced today it has discovered and developed a process to recover chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) during refrigerator and freezer repair.

CFCs, normally lost to the atmosphere during such repairs, are slowly depleting the ozone layer that encircles the Earth and screens out most damaging ultraviolet rays, scientists say.

Using the new process developed by Whirlpool, a specially designed seven-layer plastic bag catches and holds refrigerants released during servicing. The old refrigerant is then taken to a recovery center where it is transferred from the plastic bag to a pressurized tank and held for recycling.

Walter J. Coleman, Whirlpool’s vice president for consumer services, said the company believes it is the first major U.S. appliance manufacturer to successfully develop a relatively simple process to capture used refrigerant at the time of refrigerator or freezer repair in the home.