Safe Disposal Options for Smoke Detectors:

1/7/2020 (Permalink)

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The radioactive material in a smoke detector can become a problem, if the detector is not properly disposed. Smoke detectors placed in the trash or burned will release their radioactive material into the environment. This holds true for any chemical or potentially hazardous material, which is why proper disposal is very important.

The life expectancy of smoke detectors is about 10 years, after this their sensors can begin to lose sensitivity. You can find the manufacturer date on the back of your smoke detector. Be sure to remove the smoke detector from the wall or ceiling to check the date of manufacture. Replace the smoke alarm with a new one if the unit is more than 10 years old or the test alarm does not work.

You can return your old or unneeded smoke detector to the original manufacturer for disposal as hazardous waste. The brand name and/or address can be found on the back of the device or in the user’s manual. After removing the battery, return the entire unit intact with a note indicating that the device is intended for disposal. Detectors should be mailed by surface mail or UPS Ground so they don’t travel by airplane.