How to Recycle a Carrier Air source heat pump (2026)

How to recycle a Carrier air source heat pump

Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team on April 2026

A Carrier air source heat pump cannot be placed in regular kerbside waste in any jurisdiction with F-Gas regulation - the refrigerant must be captured by a certified handler before the cabinet is broken down. This guide covers the refrigerant inside, the F-Gas rules that apply, and the disposal routes available.

Refrigerant in your Carrier unit

Modern Carrier air source heat pumps (post-2018) typically use R32 (HFC, single-component) at a charge of 1500-3500g. The global warming potential (GWP) of R32 (HFC, single-component) is 675 - meaning each kilogram released to atmosphere has the same climate impact as 675 kg of CO2.

Older Carrier units (typically pre-2018) used R410A (HFC blend) at a charge of 2000-4500g, with GWP 2088. EU and US restricting new equipment from 2025.

To check what refrigerant your specific unit uses, look at the data plate on the back or inside the cabinet door - the refrigerant type is printed alongside the model number.

F-Gas rules that apply

Carrier units are F-Gas regulated equipment under EU Regulation 517/2014, the UK F-Gas Regulations 2015, and the US AIM Act 2020. That means:

• The refrigerant must be recovered by a holder of an F-Gas Category I (or equivalent) certificate before disposal
• Placing the unit in regular waste is a regulatory offence in the EU, UK, and US states with WEEE-equivalent laws
• Penalty for illegal disposal ranges from £200 (UK fixed-penalty notice) to $25,000 per violation (US EPA)

How Carrier handles take-back

Carrier (a US-headquartered manufacturer) operates take-back through:

• Manufacturer programme: Carrier sustainability and recycling page - check your country page for the specific drop-off or collection process available to you
• Retailer take-back: when buying a replacement, ask the retailer about old-for-new collection. UK retailers like Currys, John Lewis, and AO are obliged under WEEE to take an old unit when delivering a new one
• Local-authority bulky-waste collection: most UK councils, US municipalities, and EU local authorities run bulky-waste collection that includes white goods - check whether yours requires a booking and whether there is a fee

What it costs

Typical disposal cost for a Carrier air source heat pump runs $300-800 decommissioning + capture. Variation comes from:

• Whether it is a take-back-with-purchase (often free)
• Whether the local authority charges per collection (£0-£50 in UK, $20-$80 in US)
• Whether the unit needs special handling (very large commercial fridges or units with damaged cabinets cost more)

Material recovery

After refrigerant capture, a Carrier air source heat pump is broken down into:

• Steel cabinet (60-80% by weight) - melted and reused
• Aluminium evaporator and condenser coils (5-12%)
• Copper tubing (2-5%) - high recovery value at LME spot prices
• ABS / polystyrene insulation foam - typically 5-15%, may contain blowing agents requiring controlled disposal
• Plastic interior parts - mixed-grade recycled where possible

A typical 200L domestic fridge contains roughly 40 kg of recoverable steel, 3 kg of aluminium, and 1.2 kg of copper.

Sources

• Carrier sustainability page:
• EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014
• UK F-Gas Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/310)
• US AIM Act 2020 (HFC phase-down)
• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) - GWP coefficients
• Annual F-Gas leak inspection required above 5 tCO2e charge; only F-Gas certified contractors may install or decommission