New regulations and product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants announced

Under regulations announced on 6 October 2026, anyone selling, installing, maintaining, recovering or destroying synthetic refrigerants will need to participate in the regulated scheme from 1 April 2027.

The Waste Minimisation (Synthetic Refrigerants) Regulations 2026 regulations cover synthetic refrigerants such as HFCs and other fluorinated gases used in heating, cooling, refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. 

The regulations enable measures to limit emissions by introducing nationally consistent requirements for greater industry accountability for tracking refrigerants through the supply chain and supporting their recovery, reclamation, and safe destruction.  

Businesses handling gases and related equipment will be required to register with the scheme and collect and report data on a range of activities to the scheme manager. 

The measures are intended to build a complete, nationally consistent picture of how much refrigerant is used, recovered and destroyed. 

Anyone destroying synthetic refrigerants must achieve regulated efficiency levels and meet specified air-emissions limits. Annual independent certification is required.   

Accredited scheme manager  

The Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants will be responsible for operating and delivering the regulated scheme. 

The Trust has collected and destroyed synthetic refrigerants since 1993 and has run the accredited voluntary product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants since 2010. 

Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) role 

MCERT will continue to work with the Trust and synthetic refrigerant sector to support implementation of the scheme and the development of tranche 2 of the regulations to establish minimum competency requirements for HVAC&R technicians.  

Emissions reductions

Establishing a regulated scheme is an action in New Zealand’s second emissions reductions plan. Some refrigerant gases can have a very high climate impact if released into the atmosphere. These are estimated to account for about two percent of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

The scheme is expected to reduce emissions by an estimated 400,000 tonnes by 2030 and help New Zealand meet its international climate change commitments, including under the Montreal Protocol.    

Regulatory timeframe 

The voluntary synthetic refrigerant scheme will continue to operate until 1 April 2027. 

 A second tranche of regulations will take effect from 2030. These will include new competency requirements for handling synthetic refrigerants to reduce emissions during use.