Vapour recovery at petrol service stations

In 2002, the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) commenced evaluation of vapour recovery technology at service stations to reduce the emission of petrol vapours during refuelling of vehicles.

This technology is known as Stage 2 vapour recovery or 'VR2'. Over the last 20 years VR2 has been successfully introduced across the United States, Europe and in many parts of Asia to reduce local, regional and global air pollution.

In August 2007, DECC released a discussion paper seeking public comment on a proposal to expand vapour recovery at service stations in the Greater Metropolitan Region (GMR) of NSW.

As a result of this consultation, in November 2007 the State Government announced its intention to:

• expand the Stage 1 vapour recovery technology already in use at service stations in Sydney to the Central Coast, Illawarra and Lower Hunter
• phase in Stage 2 vapour recovery technology at service stations in the Sydney, Central Coast, Wollongong and Newcastle metropolitan areas.