The refrigerants we use have changed. R22 was replaced by R410a and that will eventually be replaced by units that can run on R290, or less ideally R32 or another.
The organisation at work here are targeting developing countries who've been much slower to migrate to less harmful refrigerants, but old units are being cycled out for new ones, so new demand for janky old refrigerant (from failing units, so likely contaminated) is lower than you might think.
This makes sense, thanks for clarifying. So the refrigerants in use are effectively obsolete, and after they're reclaimed and destroyed, should pose no further risk, as there are better options available.
The organisation at work here are targeting developing countries who've been much slower to migrate to less harmful refrigerants, but old units are being cycled out for new ones, so new demand for janky old refrigerant (from failing units, so likely contaminated) is lower than you might think.