Abstract: Useless refrigerators or other commodities which contain or consist of polyurethane foam wherein the cells confine fluorochlorohydrocarbon gas are relieved of refrigerant and lubricant prior to being comminuted into 1 cm.sup.3 cubes or similar particles. The particles are classified in a suction chamber to segregate comminuted foam from metallic and/or plastic materials, and the particles of foam are thereupon ground and/or otherwise pulverized to a size in the range of 0.1 mm. This destroys the cells and releases the gas which is filtered, condensed and mixed with water prior to confinement in vessels.