Interstate Refrigerant Recovery Inc.

Sophie Leone • May 22, 2024

We are pleased to welcome Interstate Refrigerant Recovery Inc. as a new Supporting Advisory Members to the Northeast Recycling Council

Since their start in 2000, Interstate Refrigerant Recover Inc. (IRRI) has grown more every Year. They currently work with over 500 towns, municipalities, scrap yards and large commercial contractors in the Northeast to recover all freon from different types of units. Their work involves recycling refrigerant from appliances that are dropped off at transfer stations, and other companies in the New England area. The importance of their work lies in the recycling of refrigerants which are part of household items such as air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, water coolers, and some water heaters now. Refrigerant can also be found in large commercial appliances and commercial rooftop chillers.


Freon, another word for refrigerant, is an essential part of all cooling appliances but is dangerous as it contains chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are detrimental to our ozone layer. CFCs were invented around a century ago and it wasn’t until the 1970s that their harmful effects were discovered. Since then, the Environmental Protection Agency has worked to implement regulations of CFC’s. IRRI’s work is crucial as they help facilitate the proper disposal and recycling of these substances. Interstate Refrigerant doesn’t only recover all refrigerant they also have their sister company Refrigerant Solutions Inc. where all freon is brought and reclaimed or sent out to other Companies for further processing or Disposal.


 IRRI has had the privilege to be able to work with large entities including Yankee Stadium, Mass General Hospital and on some decommissioned Navy Vessels to properly remove and recycle refrigerant. The scale of their work is not only impressive but also critical for the safety of our environment and preserving the current state of our ozone.


“Protecting the Environment and Ozone Layer for the Future of Our Children”


NERC is pleased to welcome IRRI as a new Supporting Advisory Member. We look forward to seeing them expand in the Northeast and continue to do the extremely important work they do.


For more information about the IRRI click here

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NERC states preference for mechanical recycling

By Waste Today Magazine • June 9, 2025
The Brattleboro, Vermont-based Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has adopted a policy position on chemical recycling that was developed by a subcommittee of its Chemical Recycling Committee. NERC, whose members are drawn from 11 northeastern states, says the purpose of the policy statement is to articulate guiding principles for environmentally responsible chemical recycling of plastics, which it notes also is referred to as molecular or advanced recycling. NERC's Chemical Recycling Committee was established to better understand these processes and their environmental impacts to make informed policy decisions. In line with its mission of moving toward a more circular and sustainable economy, NERC says mechanical recycling currently is the preferred method of plastic waste processing, as it creates fewer environmental impacts than other currently available chemical recycling processes. View the full article here.

Northeast Recycling Council Publishes Chemical Recycling Policy Position

By Waste Advantage Magazine • June 2, 2025
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) published its Chemical Recycling Policy Position on May 30, 2025. The purpose of the policy statement is to articulate guiding principles for environmentally responsible chemical recycling of plastics. NERC supports the conservation of natural resources, waste minimization, and recognizes the role of recycling in reaching these goals. Plastic is a prevalent material for packaging and other products due to its material properties. Producing virgin plastic from fossil fuels is an extractive process with negative environmental and social impacts. Therefore, NERC supports reduction, reuse, and recycling processes that displace virgin production in plastics where environmentally preferable. You can view the policy statement here: https://www.nerc.org/chemical-recycling . View the full article here.

Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) Publishes Chemical Recycling Policy Position

By Megan Fontes • May 29, 2025
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) published its Chemical Recycling Policy Position on May 30, 2025. The purpose of the policy statement is to articulate guiding principles for environmentally responsible chemical recycling of plastics. NERC supports the conservation of natural resources, waste minimization, and recognizes the role of recycling in reaching these goals. Plastic is a prevalent material for packaging and other products due to its material properties. Producing virgin plastic from fossil fuels is an extractive process with negative environmental and social impacts. Therefore, NERC supports reduction, reuse, and recycling processes that displace virgin production in plastics where environmentally preferable. You can view the policy statement here: https://www.nerc.org/chemical-recycling . The Policy Position was developed by the Subcommittee of the NERC Chemical Recycling Committee. Participants on the Subcommittee included Committee Chair Tom Metzner, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP); Claudine Ellyin, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP); John Fay, Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA); Anthony Fontana, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Retired ; Michael Fowler, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP); Timothy Kerr, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Left MDE ; Shannon McDonald, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE); Chaz Miller, Ex-Officio, NERC Board; Elizabeth Moore, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP); Marc Moran, Pennsylvania Department Of Environmental Protection; Michael Nork, New Hampshire Department Of Environmental Services; Megan Schulz-Fontes, Northeast Recycling Council (NERC); and Richard Watson, Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA). NERC created the Chemical Recycling Committee in 2022 with the goal of sharing information on new technologies called “chemical recycling.” The Committee shares information on the efficacy, cost, and impacts of these new technologies. Our Policy is the result of those efforts. The Committee is open to NERC state members and several advisory member organizations whose participation has been approved by the state members serving on the committee. NERC has published several other policy positions including the Post-Consumer Recycled Content Policy (2019) and Product Stewardship and Producer Responsibility Policy (2018), which can be found among others on NERC’s website: https://www.nerc.org/policy-positions-and-statements . For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .
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