smoke detector disposal?

[LCHIEN]

I'm replacing all the smoke detectors in my 17-year old home after i read that they should be replaced every ten years...
The new ones supposedly have a permanent 10-year battery.

So, both the new and old have small amounts of radioactive materials in the detector. Do they need special disposal or can i just throw it in the trash?
I see a warning on the device about the radioactive material but it doesn't give any disposal instructions. Neither does the new device packaging.

P.S. oh i found this:
http://www.ncradiation.net/RMS/docs/smokedetectors.pdf

[eccentrictinkerer]

If your detector is the photo electric type it can be disposed of by your local electronics disposal facility.

If it is the radioactive type, it should go the the hazardous waste facility. The detectors used to have a notice to send back to the factory.

Here in Minneapolis, the city takes everything and sorts and disposes of it properly, computers, refrigerators, you name it.

They tax the **** out of us, but they try to take care of us!

[Prax]

Or, if you want to experiment, check out the Radioactive Boyscout

[LCHIEN]

hmmm, all the websites on disposal recommend they be sent back to the manufacturer for disposal, not thrown in the trash.

But Kidde owns the company that made my detectors and they say on their website to just throw it in the trash. So now what do i do?

[Uncle Cracker]

But Kidde owns the company that made my detectors and they say on their website to just throw it in the trash. So now what do i do?

Throw it in Kidde's trash...

[eccentrictinkerer]

From the Department of Confusion Department:

http://www.mcmua.com/hazardouswaste/..._detectors.htm

Handling

Do not crush smoke detector.

Management Options

Although it is legal to dispose of your ionization detector in the trash, we encourage you to return the product back to the manufacturer. They are mandated by the Nuclear Regulatory law 10 CFR 32.27 to see that the radioactive waste is disposed at a nuclear waste disposal facility. When sending back a smoke detector, you should NOT take it apart. The entire smoke detector needs to be returned to the manufacturer or store by UPS ground mail (not airmail). The batteries, however, should be removed and properly disposed of or recycled. No special shipping is needed for your smoke detector: just put it in a box, maybe with some newspaper for padding, and send it.


If unable to return smoke detector to manufacturer, remove battery from smoke detector and deliver battery to household hazardous waste disposal event or facility; dispose of smoke detector in the garbage if no other options exist.

Hope this clears it up!

[Rich P]

Here in Sillycon Valley everything like this goes to the Hazmat collection event. Not sure what happens in the ROW. If you think about it, if the level of radioactivity were dangerous the device would be heavily shielded.

[Uncle Cracker]

If you think about it, if the level of radioactivity were dangerous the device would be heavily shielded.

I think their real concern is the cumulative effect that disposal of thousands of units in landfills or other concentrated sites might have on the groundwater or wildlife.

[Ed62]

I think their real concern is the cumulative effect that disposal of thousands of units in landfills or other concentrated sites might have on the groundwater or wildlife.

I think you're right. There's way too much junk now in our landfills/waters.

Ed

[cabinetman]

In our area Hazardous Waste receives that type of product.
.