Seeing Halon recycling as part of a larger picture

 

It is a well-known fact that minimising Halon emissions into the atmosphere and increasing the recycling of such substances contributes to the natural restoring process of the ozone layer.  Research has indicated that the majority of halon closed recovery systems in use today, as well as all recycling units currently sold in this sector, meet or exceed industry standards that require minimum recovery efficiencies of 98%. 

This is why HBS feels it is important to reaffirm the fact that by helping us protect the ozone layer and the  environment with all of its components, we are in fact protecting the economy.

 

That time of the year....

Yes, it is that time of the year again, the time when NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center releases the Antarctic Hemisphere yearly map of total ozone. Satellite instruments monitor the ozone layer, and they use their data to create the images that depict the amount of ozone.
It is a helpful reminder that constant efforts to phaseout and recyle Halons will result in substantial reductions of ozone depleting substance emissions in the atmosphere.

 

 

Of course we also know Thanksgiving is fast approaching and at this time of celebration our thoughts turn gratefully to you with warm appreciation. Happy Thanksgiving!

Halon phase-out

" Halon Phase-out:

The 1992 Meeting of the Parties in Copenhagen decided to phase out consumption and production of halons in developed countries by January 1^st, 1994. Parties operating under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol have a 10-year grace period where production for basic domestic needs is still allowed. In addition, Parties can ask for an exemption on production and consumption for essential end users under certain conditions.

At the same meeting, the Parties decided to allow unrestricted trade of recycled halons provided that the relevant data are reported to the UNEP under the procedures of the Protocol. These decisions make an orderly transition to fire protection without halons possible.

Existing valuable or critical installations can be protected  by halons until other arrangements have been made. In addition, the decisions allow time to for alternative means of protection to be developed for installations where other fire extinguishing systems are not adequate.

The importance of halon banks:

These decisions have made it important to plan for the recycling and reuse of halons. This will:

·         Facilitate the transfer of available halon from one user to satisfy the need s of another;

·         Discourage emissions into the atmosphere ;and

·         Mitigate the need for consumption and production exemptions for  “essential users”

If global-banking can be made more productive it will mean that halon 1301 will be available for several decades and halon 1211 for at least 10 years. International cooperation is needed to ensure that one nation’s surplus halon is exported to meet the need s of another nation. This especially true for developing nations which have minimal internal banks due to their restricted number of installations.”

Halon Management: Banking for the Future - UNEP IE/PAC