No Smoking

Photo: Tumi-1983

Fact

According to the U.S. EPA, both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms contain plastic, electronic circuit boards and in some cases, batteries. The most common type of smoke detector contains a small amount of Americium 241, a radioactive material. Because of this, smoke detectors can’t be recycled.

Get Started

• Don’t use rechargeable batteries in your smoke detector. Because of the slow drain on the battery, rechargeables are not suited for this purpose. Safely recycle those single-use batteries when you change them
• If you need to replace your smoke detector, check to see if the plastic cover (made of PVC) can safely be removed and recycled, before you take the rest of the unit to a hazardous waste collection or send it back to the manufacturer
• Though you want to use a product to its fullest, smoke detectors should be replaced every eight to 10 years

Become a Pro

• When it comes time for your semiannual check on your smoke detectors, send a quick reminder (email, text or a phone call will do) to your friends and family to remind them to do the same. If they need to replace a unit, share proper disposal tips with them
• Raise awareness in your neighborhood about properly disposing of smoke detectors by making announcements at events such as HOA meetings or simply sharing your new knowledge the next time you see your neighbor