--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7671g" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "7671g" heading: "National recycling and emission reduction program" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7671g" units: - "Chapter 85 — Air Pollution Prevention and Control" - "Subchapter VI — Stratospheric Ozone Protection" --- # §7671g. National recycling and emission reduction program - (a) **In general—** - (1) The [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) shall, by not later than January 1, 1992, promulgate regulations establishing standards and requirements regarding the use and [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of [class I substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=3) during the service, repair, or [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of [appliances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1) and industrial process refrigeration. Such standards and requirements shall become effective not later than July 1, 1992. - (2) The [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) shall, within 4 years after November 15, 1990, promulgate regulations establishing standards and requirements regarding use and [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of class I and II substances not covered by [paragraph (1)](#a-1), including the use and [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) during service, repair, or [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of [appliances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1) and industrial process refrigeration. Such standards and requirements shall become effective not later than 12 months after promulgation of the regulations. - (3) The regulations under this subsection shall include requirements that— - (A) reduce the use and emission of such substances to the lowest achievable level, and - (B) maximize the recapture and recycling of such substances. Such regulations may include requirements to use alternative substances (including substances which are not class I or [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4)) or to minimize use of class I or [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4), or to promote the use of safe alternatives pursuant to [section 7671k of this title](/usc/42/7671k.md) or any combination of the foregoing. - (b) **Safe disposal—** The regulations under [subsection (a)](#a) shall establish standards and requirements for the safe [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of class I and II substances. Such regulations shall include each of the following— - (1) Requirements that class I or [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) contained in bulk in [appliances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1), machines or other goods shall be removed from each such [appliance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1), machine or other good prior to the [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of such items or their delivery for recycling. - (2) Requirements that any [appliance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1), machine or other good containing a class I or [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in bulk shall not be manufactured, sold, or distributed in interstate [commerce](/usc/42/7550.md?p=6) or offered for sale or distribution in interstate [commerce](/usc/42/7550.md?p=6) unless it is equipped with a servicing aperture or an equally effective design feature which will facilitate the recapture of such substance during service and repair or [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of such item. - (3) Requirements that any product in which a class I or [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) is incorporated so as to constitute an inherent element of such product shall be disposed of in a manner that reduces, to the maximum extent practicable, the release of such substance into the environment. If the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) determines that the application of this paragraph to any product would result in producing only insignificant environmental benefits, the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) shall include in such regulations an exception for such product. - (c) **Prohibitions—** - (1) Effective July 1, 1992, it shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e), in the course of maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of an [appliance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1) or industrial process refrigeration, to knowingly vent or otherwise knowingly release or dispose of any class I or [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) used as a refrigerant in such [appliance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1) (or industrial process refrigeration) in a manner which permits such substance to enter the environment. De minimis releases associated with good faith attempts to recapture and recycle or safely dispose of any such substance shall not be subject to the prohibition set forth in the preceding sentence. - (2) Effective 5 years after November 15, 1990, [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall also apply to the venting, release, or [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of any substitute substance for a class I or [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) by any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of an [appliance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1) or industrial process refrigeration which contains and uses as a refrigerant any such substance, unless the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) determines that venting, releasing, or disposing of such substance does not pose a threat to the environment. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “[appliance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1)” includes any device which contains and uses as a refrigerant a substitute substance and which is used for household or commercial purposes, including any air conditioner, refrigerator, chiller, or freezer. ## Source credit (July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title VI, § 608, as added Pub. L. 101–549, title VI, § 602(a), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2661.)