Meeting with A-Gas - 5 March 2025
Purpose
1. You are meeting with Mitchell (Mitch) Williamson, General Manager of A-Gas NZ and Brett
Ferguson, Managing Director of A-Gas ANZ on 5 March 2025.This briefing has been
prepared to support you at this meeting. It includes:
i. background information about A-Gas and why they wish to meet with you,
ii. how their concerns relate to the regulated product stewardship scheme for synthetic
refrigerant gases
iii. talking points to support you in the discussion (Appendix 1).
2. A-Gas is meeting with Officials on 6 March 2025 following your meeting. A-Gas has
indicated they intend to discuss the changes the regulated product stewardship will
introduce.
Context
3. The main topics A-Gas may wish to discuss are summarised in the subsections below.
Talking points for each topic are included in Appendix 1.
Regulated product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants
4. Cabinet has agreed for regulations to be drafted that will introduce a regulated product
stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants. Cool-Safe will be the Product Stewardship
organisation delivering the scheme. The scheme will introduce data reporting across the
life of these gases and training requirements for those purchasing and handling these
gases.
A-Gas initiatives
5. A-Gas is an international company which supplies and captures refrigerant gases for re-
use and destruction. It offers recovery services, reclamation and repurposing processes
for refrigerants.
6. In New Zealand A-Gas is becoming increasingly active in refrigerant recycling. In June of
2024, A-Gas announced a partnership with ACTROL where A-Gas supplies ACTROL with
reclaim cylinders. These cylinders are available through the ACTROL Reclaim Refrigerant
Program, allowing customers to drop off and pick up reclaim cylinders in-store.
Product stewardship and the recycling of HFCs
7. A-Gas are likely to raise concerns about the recycling of gases. A-Gas currently provides
recycling services to customers. This is an important part of their business model. s
9(2)
(ba)
(i)
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8. The regulated product stewardship scheme is not designed to restrict recycling activities.
It will not introduce barriers to the recycling of HFCs, and it is anticipated that recycling
activities will continue to occur under the scheme.
9. Recycling of HFCs is an important part of the sector, ensuring supply resilience and that
customers’ needs can be meet. Under the scheme, firms will be able to continue with
current recycling operations or introduce new recycling operations in the future.
Product stewardship and the earning of NZUs from export
10. s 9(2)(ba)(i)
11. Under the NZ ETS, NZUs must be surrendered when synthetic greenhouse gases are
imported into New Zealand. For synthetic greenhouse gases that are later exported out of
the country, NZUs are earned. These settings ensure that gases being transported through
(but not used in) in New Zealand are not economically disadvantaged. The regulated
product stewardship scheme will not make any changes to the current NZ ETS settings.
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Appendix 1: Talking points
Regulated product stewardship for synthetic refrigerants
1. The intent behind the regulated product stewardship scheme is to promote the responsible
handling of synthetic refrigerants and reduce leaks across the sector.
2. Product stewardship will introduce a data reporting requirement for those importing and
working with these gases. It will also require that those who are working with these gases,
and the equipment using these gases are trained to an industry standard.
A-Gas initiatives
3. The work A-Gas has undertaken to reduce emissions and the collaboration you have
undertaken with ACTORL to provide cylinders for the take back service they offer is
important.
4. I want to acknowledge this work, and that you have done it on a voluntary basis.
5. Question: How have you found industry buy-in for these initiatives?
6. Question: The recycling of synthetic refrigerants, and the role A-Gas plays in the sector
will remain important once the regulated scheme is introduced. Do you have thoughts on
how the scheme could best work to ensure that it is effective?
Product Stewardship and the recycling of HFCs
7. I understand that the recycling of refrigerants is an important part of the HVAC-R sector,
and the work that A-Gas does to recycle gas helps to keep the need for imports lower.
Product stewardship is not intended to limit or prevent the recycling of HFCs.
8. While destruction is one aspect of the scheme, businesses will still be able to offer
programmes where they collect used gases and recycle or repurpose these gases for
further use.
Product Stewardship and the earning of NZUs from export
9. Under the regulated scheme, export of HFCs can still occur. Businesses can export these
gases from New Zealand to other countries where they have operations, or to sell to other
customers.
10. I understand how important it is for businesses to have the ability to send these gases
across borders to meet business needs. Product stewardship is not intended to introduce
any export barriers.
Closing remarks on product stewardship and thanks
11. If you have any remaining concerns, or questions please do raise them with my Officials
when you meet with them tomorrow.
12. Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me. Having sector input into the design
of the scheme is important to me as the Minister responsible so please keep in touch.
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Appendix 2: Biography for Mitchell (Mitch) Williams and Brett
Ferguson
Photo
Name and details
Mitchell (Mitch) Williamson
• Mitchell is the General Manager of A-Gas NZ, he
has held this position for just under two years
• Prio to joining A-Gas, Mitchell held various roles at
AIREFRIG Australia for just over a decade
• Mitchell is a trained HVAC-R Technician.
Brett Ferguson
• Brett is the Managing Director of A-Gas Australia
and New Zealand, a position he has held for over
six years
• Prio to joining A-Gas, Brett has spent time in
general, and commercial management rolls with
Orica and Interacid Australia.
• Brett is also the Chair of Refrigerant Reclaim
Australia (RAA), the product stewardship
organisation for the Australian scheme.
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