Summary:
Amazon and Walmart have been fined over $1.1m by the Washington Department of Ecology for selling air conditioning recharge cans containing the prohibited refrigerant R-134a. The fines were issued after both companies continued to sell the products, despite multiple warnings from state regulators. The Washington Legislature passed laws in 2019 and 2021 to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, which trap hundreds to thousands of times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Ecology has issued more than $1.1 million in penalties to Amazon Inc. and Walmart Inc. for illegally selling climate-polluting cooling and refrigeration products, following years of efforts to bring the companies into compliance with state law.
Amazon was fined $800,068, while Walmart was fined $383,388. The companies have 30 days to pay the penalties or appeal to the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board.
The violations stem from continued sales of motor vehicle air conditioning recharge cans containing the prohibited refrigerant R-134a, despite multiple warnings from state regulators. Most businesses stopped selling restricted products to Washington customers after Ecology began notifying companies about the new laws in November 2021.
In 2019 and 2021, the Washington Legislature passed laws to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, a class of refrigerants that trap hundreds to thousands of times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Air conditioning recharge cans are used to refill leaking vehicle systems instead of repairing them, allowing refrigerant to escape into the atmosphere. R-134a has a warming effect 1,430 times greater than carbon dioxide. A single 16-ounce can can have the same climate impact as driving about 1,500 miles.
Drivers with vehicles that use R-134a refrigerants do not need to switch refrigerants or replace their vehicles. Instead, leaks can be addressed by an EPA-certified mechanic.
“Climate change is jeopardizing the health, safety and prosperity of our communities, and because they’re so powerful, phasing out hydrofluorocarbons is one of the most cost-effective actions we can take to address climate change,” said Joel Creswell, manager for Ecology’s Climate Pollution Reduction program. “Industry is already shifting towards more climate-friendly refrigerants, and we need to make sure that there is a level playing field as we go through this transition.”
