A system for the in situ destruction of compressible refrigerant from a refrigerant containing apparatus includes a refrigerant recovery apparatus (30) for receiving refrigerant from the refrigerant containing apparatus (20) and a refrigerant disposal apparatus (100) for destroying refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus. The disposal apparatus (100) includes a storage tank (110) for collecting refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus (30) and a reactor device (130) for receiving refrigerant collected in said storage tank and destroying the refrigerant received from the storage tank. The reactor device includes a reaction chamber (135) housing a replaceable reactor core (140) containing a reagent functional to chemically react with the received refrigerant. A heater device (138) is provided in operative association with the reaction chamber for heating the reactor core (140) to a desired temperature at which the reagent will most effectively react with the refrigerant.