smoke detector - permanently sealed - dispose of?

[Best Aunt]

I have carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors which have lithium ion batteries permanently sealed inside them.

Some of them are almost 10 years old.

I assume that they will start making some kind of annoying noise when they have reached the end of their lifespan.

Is there something you do to make that noise stop so that you can dispose of them?

I want to know what to do before this happens!

I assume somebody here has been through this already.

 

[_19disnA]

I know that lithium batteries should not be disposed of in the trash. Some types of smoke detectors also have a tiny amount of some radioactive material that is part of the smoke detector mechanisms which is part of why they have an expiration date and shouldn't be put in the trash. With other lithium batteries that have expired/stopped holding a charge (camera or battery powered garden equipment), I take them to Staple/Office Max and they recycle them. Home Improvement stores like Lowe's or Menard's I believe also accept certain items for recycling. Best Buy might also be another option. If you check their website, they may have a section specifically relating to recycling and the types of items they do/don't accept.

The batteries I took to Office Max/Staples they accept at their customer service counter.

 

[Best Aunt]

I know that lithium batteries should not be disposed of in the trash. Some types of smoke detectors also have a tiny amount of some radioactive material that is part of the smoke detector mechanisms which is part of why they have an expiration date and shouldn't be put in the trash. With other lithium batteries that have expired/stopped holding a charge (camera or battery powered garden equipment), I take them to Staple/Office Max and they recycle them. Home Improvement stores like Lowe's or Menard's I believe also accept certain items for recycling. Best Buy might also be another option. If you check their website, they may have a section specifically relating to recycling and the types of items they do/don't accept.

The batteries I took to Office Max/Staples they accept at their customer service counter.

Understood, but do you take the thing in for recycling if it's making noise?

 

[_19disnA]

Every item I have recycled, I could remove the battery from the device.

I would imagine the model # is printed/stamped somewhere on the back of the device that you can use to do an online search. They probably offer advice of what to do/not do regarding disposal or recycyling.

 

[Dan Murphy]

From our recycling website.......

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Household Hazardous Waste

lonization smoke detectors contain small amounts of radioactive materials. Never disassemble a smoke detector. Intact detectors pose little threat but can be a health hazard if broken open. By federal regulation, all smoke detectors contain the mail-back address to send used units with radioactive chips. The address of the supplier may be listed in the product warranty or user's manual. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission suggests checking the label on the detector for disposal options, but residents may safely discard individual units in their regular garbage,

For First Alert or BRK: call First Alert at

800-323-9005.

For Other Brands: Curie Environmental in New Mexico will take any smoke detector back for a fee. For specific instructions on how to send the detector, see curieservices.com

 

[PollyannaMom]

I assume somebody here has been through this already.

IIRC, when mine started making that noise, the nice fireman took it with him to dispose of.

So maybe call your local fire department's non-emergency line and ask if you can bring it in?

 

[kanerf]

https://hackaday.com/2011/08/06/the-diy-nuclear-reactor/

 

[Moliphino]

Mine had a tab you could push and permanently disable the alarm and discharge the battery.