EU Ban Hits Home Fridges — What Expats Should Know

12 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

The EU ban on fluorinated gases starts 1 Jan 2026. Learn how it affects fridge ownership, repairs, purchases and disposal in Poland.

The EU introduced an EU ban on fluorinated gases starting 1 January 2026, and it targets household refrigerators and freezers. Consequently, many expats ask if they must throw away working appliances immediately.

Table of Contents

What the EU ban on fluorinated gases means

The regulation stops companies from placing new domestic fridges and freezers containing covered fluorinated greenhouse gases on the EU market. Moreover, the rule appears in Annex IV of Regulation 2024/573 of 7 February 2024. However, the law does not criminalise ownership. In addition, it does not order households to remove existing appliances. The rule targets producers and importers who first place products on the market. Therefore, your 10 or 15 year old fridge remains legal if someone bought it earlier.

Repairs, service and gas restrictions

Manufacturers may still supply spare parts for repair under conditions. However, repairs must not increase the device efficiency or the amount of fluorinated gas inside. In addition, service outlets face phased bans on certain gases from 1 January 2025. Consequently, some high-GWP gases for servicing will become restricted. Nevertheless, technicians can still service many older fridges depending on the refrigerant type and the repair required. Therefore, always ask the service company about the refrigerant before authorising costly work.

How this will change the market

Producers already shifted to alternative refrigerants. For example, many modern fridges use R600a, or isobutane. Moreover, the industry moved away from HFC-134a long ago. Therefore, new models available after 2026 will mainly use natural refrigerants. However, buyers do not need to calculate GWP figures. The retailer and importer hold the legal duty to ensure market compliance.

Consequently, you will gradually see fewer appliances using banned gases in shops. In addition, the change will lower the climate impact of home refrigeration over time. However, the transition will occur through normal replacement cycles. Therefore, you do not need to discard a working fridge now.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you live in Poland you should check the fridge nameplate or manual to learn the refrigerant type. Moreover, shops must collect your old fridge when delivering a new one (Art. 37 of the Polish WEEE act). In addition, cities like Warsaw run free large-appliance collection and services via the 19115 system. Therefore, avoid leaving fridges by communal bin sheds. Also remember local terms: ZUS (social security), NFZ (national health fund), PESEL (national ID number) often appear on municipal forms. Finally, ask repairers about gas type and recovery options before you approve works.

When you buy a new appliance, check the specification for the refrigerant. Moreover, ask the retailer to confirm they legally placed the product on the EU market after 2026. In addition, keep the old appliance for repair if repair makes sense. However, if the device finally fails, do not treat it as ordinary bulky waste. Therefore, hand it to an authorised WEEE collector or let the retailer take it when delivering the new appliance.

Overall, the EU ban on fluorinated gases will change the products you see in shops. However, it will not force you to throw out a functioning fridge. Consequently, the most immediate impact falls on manufacturers and importers. Moreover, the long term impact will slowly reduce climate-warming emissions from household refrigeration.

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