Freon ban on hold

By Erin Nicholes - 10/19/2008

ANACONDA — A proposed policy that would have banned Freon at the local landfill is on hold as the county deals with a sudden influx of refrigerators.

"Our refrigeration units have increased in the last few weeks from 50 to 300 as word of the policy got out," said Heather Edwards, a member of the solid waste board. "We need to take care of the problem we have out there before the commission can even consider a policy." The commission is focusing on a potential contract with a local Freon-removal company to address the abundance of fridges.

Earlier this month, the solid waste board proposed a policy that would require people throwing out refrigerators at the landfill to first hire a professional to remove Freon from the appliance.

Freon is a refrigerant chemical used in fridges and air conditioners.

Currently, the landfill accepts refrigerators, relying on a county electrician certified in Freon removal to drain the chemical before a metal recycling company picks up the appliances.

But a street-light project and other work are keeping the electrician busy. Also, the practice is expensive, costing the county $600 per 25 refrigerators, Edwards said.

The policy would require people dumping refrigerators to first hire someone certified in Freon removal to drain and reclaim the substance, and would require them to show documentation of that process at the landfill.

Butte-Silver Bow and other area counties have similar policies.

The commission held-off voting on the policy initially because of unanswered questions and concerns from members that new rules could result in illegal dumping of refrigerators.

In the meantime, the appliances have multiplied at the landfill.

For now, the commission is holding off on considering a policy and is instead concentrating on the problem at hand, Edwards said.

Staff is working on the Freon-removal contract; it's expected to come before commissioners in coming weeks.

— Reporter Erin Nicholes may be reached at erin.nicholes@lee.net