Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is used as thermal insulation, especially in a refrigerator. After
the refrigerator was discarded, it was dismantled by the dismantler. Most of the time, RPUF waste
was found illegally disposed or openly burned, causing environmental problems and human health
issues, owing to reckless management. Therefore, RPUF waste is one of the most concerning
waste disposal, leading to this study. This study investigates on RPUF waste started from the
beginning of the cycle, which was the chemical production, to the end of the cycle, followed by
the dismantling site. The result revealed that the blowing agent, for example, HCFC-141b, HFCs,
and cyclopentane, was added in a foam production process for refrigerator, an amine group was
added as a catalyst and a flame retardant was not added in the RPUF used in the refrigerator. The
study was collected survey from the dismantling sites in 5 regions of Thailand (19 dismantling
sites). These indicated that the disposal options of the RPUF wastes were landfill (47.83%), open
burning (21.74%), sanitary landfill (13.04%) incineration (13.04%) and refuse-derived fuel or RDF
(4.35%), respectively. Landfill presents the main disposal method for RPUF waste in Thailand. For
environmental aspect, in 2018-2031, the landfill disposal will affect the environment in terms of
global warming 22,175.36-39,290.65 kg CO2 eq/yr, ozone depletion 0.015-0.027 kg CFC11 eq/yr
and terrestrial ecotoxicity 52,098.17-92,308.34 kg 1,4-DCB/yr.