Seized R22 with nowhere to go

TONGA: Some 30 cylinders of banned HCFC refrigerant R22 are reported to be languishing in Tongan Customs since being seized in September 2013.

With no disposal facility of its own, Tonga is reliant upon the original manufacturer/repackager or a neighbouring country to deal with the ozone depleting gas.

According to Matangi Tonga Online, the refrigerant, packaged and labelled as R134a, was originally seized in September 2013 after tests revealed it actually contained R22.

The importer was fined for misdeclaration of the 30 cylinders.

According to the website, Australia has offered to incinerate the gas “at some point in the future”.