The first recycling plant for refrigerators and electronic waste in the Baltic states went into operation in January 2007. The plant uses liquid nitrogen to dispose of the ozone layer-damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contained in the refrigerators in an environmentally friendly way. Messer will have responsibility for all nitrogen supplies for at least five years. The contract guarantees annual supplies of over 150,000 cubic meters of the minus 196-degree gas. Messer is thereby consolidating its 90-percent market share in the Lithuanian nitrogen sector.