CAR CAR Documentation & Chain of Custody 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a chain-of-custody document in appliance recycling?
- To track the appliance from collection through final material disposition, proving regulatory compliance (Correct answer)
- To record the technician's work hours for payroll
- To document the retail value of the appliance before recycling
- To serve as a warranty transfer form
Correct answer: To track the appliance from collection through final material disposition, proving regulatory compliance
Chain-of-custody records provide an auditable trail demonstrating that hazardous components were properly handled from pickup to final disposal, satisfying EPA and state requirements.
Question 2: Under EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program, participating utilities and retailers commit to documenting that collected refrigerators have their refrigerants recovered and reported. Which agency oversees the RAD program?
- EPA (Correct answer)
- DOE
- USDA
- DOT
Correct answer: EPA
The EPA's RAD program is a voluntary partnership that sets documentation and best-practice standards for responsible appliance collection and recycling.
Question 3: A facility log for refrigerant recovery must record which of the following at minimum?
- Appliance serial number, refrigerant type, quantity recovered, and technician ID (Correct answer)
- Only the date of recovery and technician name
- The appliance brand and model year only
- The customer's home address and purchase date
Correct answer: Appliance serial number, refrigerant type, quantity recovered, and technician ID
EPA Section 608 requires recovery records to include enough detail to verify that the correct amount of the correct refrigerant was properly captured and handled.
Question 4: How long must a CAR-certified recycling facility retain refrigerant recovery records under EPA Section 608?
- Three years (Correct answer)
- One year
- Ten years
- Indefinitely
Correct answer: Three years
EPA Section 608 requires that records of refrigerant recovery transactions be retained for a minimum of three years and be available for inspection.
Question 5: When transferring a recovered refrigerant cylinder to a reclaim facility, which shipping document is typically required?
- A hazardous materials bill of lading or shipping paper per DOT 49 CFR (Correct answer)
- A standard commercial invoice with no special markings
- An EPA Form 8700-12 manifest
- A Certificate of Origin
Correct answer: A hazardous materials bill of lading or shipping paper per DOT 49 CFR
Recovered refrigerants shipped in DOT cylinders are regulated as hazardous materials and require a DOT-compliant shipping paper describing the contents, quantity, and hazard class.
Question 6: A utility running an appliance turn-in event wants proof that collected units were properly recycled. Which document best provides this assurance?
- A certificate of recycling or destruction from the certified recycler (Correct answer)
- A photo of the appliance at the collection site
- The collection driver's trip log
- A manufacturer's take-back program brochure
Correct answer: A certificate of recycling or destruction from the certified recycler
A certificate of recycling issued by a CAR-certified facility confirms to the utility that each collected unit was processed according to certified standards.
CAR CAR Documentation & Chain of Custody 1
What is the primary purpose of a chain-of-custody document in appliance recycling?