What to Do With Your Old Air Conditioner in Brisbane — Removal & Recycling Guide
What happens to your old AC when you replace it. The legal requirements (you can’t just toss it), the environmental impact of doing it wrong, and the proper way to dispose of a residential or commercial unit in Brisbane.
Quick answer: You can’t put an AC in council kerbside or in a skip — both reject units with refrigerant. The right path is ARC-licensed recovery + metal recycling. Cost from $150 bundled with new install, $280 standalone. About 85% of every old AC ends up recycled.
Why you can’t just throw it out
Refrigerant law. Australia’s Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act requires that anyone handling refrigerant holds an ARCtick licence. Fines for unlicensed handling go up to $93,900 for individuals. Throwing an AC in a skip without recovering the refrigerant is technically a federal offence.
Council kerbside doesn’t take them. Brisbane City Council and surrounding LGAs (Moreton Bay, Logan, Ipswich, Redland) all explicitly exclude air conditioners from kerbside collection — including the annual hard rubbish service.
Skip bins reject them. Reputable skip operators have refrigerant-bearing item bans in their hire contracts. Some impose hefty fees if found.
Metal recyclers want a recovery certificate. Most Brisbane scrap metal yards will accept the unit only if you can show that refrigerant has been recovered. Otherwise they refuse or charge a recovery fee.
Environmental impact of “just dumping it”
Refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases. Global warming potential (GWP) compared to CO₂:
- R22 (pre-2003 systems): 1,810× CO₂
- R410A (2003–2018 systems): 2,088× CO₂
- R32 (2018+ systems): 675× CO₂
Venting a single 2.5kW split system’s refrigerant charge has the same climate impact as driving 5,000–8,000 km in a small car. Across thousands of unrecovered residential ACs, the cumulative impact is substantial — which is why the law treats refrigerant venting seriously.
The proper removal & disposal path
- ARC-licensed installer attends with refrigerant recovery equipment
- Refrigerant recovered to a sealed cylinder — never vented
- Power isolated at the breaker
- Pipe + drain disconnected at indoor and outdoor
- Indoor unit dismounted from wall bracket
- Outdoor unit dismounted from bracket / ground feet
- Wall holes patched with weatherproof sealant + gyprock patch
- Units transported to authorised metal recycler
- Refrigerant cylinder returned to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia for cleaning or destruction
- Recovery certificate issued (if required for body corp, insurance or contract paperwork)
What gets recycled vs landfilled
About 85% of every old AC is recyclable by weight:
- Copper (refrigerant pipework, motor windings) — Brisbane copper merchants. Highest scrap value.
- Aluminium (coil fins, casing) — recycled.
- Steel (brackets, sheet metal cabinets) — recycled.
- Electronics (PCBs, capacitors) — e-waste recycler.
- Refrigerant — cleaned and reused, or destroyed if contaminated.
- Mixed plastics (indoor housing, louvres) — usually landfill.
- Insulation foam — landfill.
The scrap value roughly equals the recycler’s handling fee — net-zero or slightly positive. We don’t pass the scrap value on as a discount because it doesn’t materially affect the removal cost.
Brisbane removal pricing (2026)
| Scenario | Starting from (inc GST) |
|---|---|
| Split removal bundled with new install | From $150 |
| Standalone split removal (no install) | From $280 |
| Multi-head removal | From $380 |
| Ducted removal | From $550 |
| Commercial / VRF | Quote on site |
See AC removal & disposal for full scope and FAQ.
Keeping the old unit instead of disposing
If you’re keeping the old unit (gifting, selling privately, moving to a holiday house), the same ARC-licensed recovery and disconnection is needed for safe transport. The refrigerant must be recovered — you can’t transport a charged unit across a long distance safely.
For a working unit being kept:
- We recover the refrigerant
- Pipe ends are capped to prevent moisture/dirt ingress
- Drain line capped
- Unit cleaned, packaged for transport
- Charge ready to be re-installed by another ARC-licensed installer at the new location
Cost similar to standard removal (from $280) plus any storage / transport you arrange separately.
Common questions
Can I throw an old air conditioner in council hard rubbish?
No. Brisbane City Council and surrounding LGAs explicitly exclude air conditioners from kerbside collection. The unit contains refrigerant which is regulated.
Can I take an old AC to the tip myself?
Most Brisbane resource recovery centres accept ACs but require evidence of refrigerant recovery. Without a recovery certificate the unit is rejected or charged a recovery fee that’s often higher than just having an installer remove it properly.
How much does AC removal cost in Brisbane?
From $150 bundled with a new install. From $280 standalone. Multi-head $380. Ducted $550. Includes refrigerant recovery, disconnection, transport, recycling.
What happens to the refrigerant?
Recovered to a sealed cylinder, returned to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia for cleaning and reuse (or destruction if contaminated).
Can I sell my old AC?
Yes — private sale is fine. The buyer (or a licensed installer they engage) handles re-installation. The refrigerant needs ARC-licensed recovery before any transport.
What about old R22 systems?
R22 is being phased out but R22 systems are removed the same way. Refrigerant goes to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia for destruction rather than reuse.
Do you provide a recovery certificate?
Yes — on request. Often needed for body corporate paperwork, insurance claims, or end-of-lease handover.
AH Air Conditioning · 63 Britannia Ave, Morningside QLD 4170 · ARCtick AU54321 · 20+ years across Brisbane.