Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors or combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detectors may contain the radioactive material, Americium-241. When we reopen, bring all these detectors to the Eco Depot for recycling.

Even photoelectric smoke detectors may contain an embedded Lithium battery that is banned from the landfill.
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Is your detector ionizing?
​To determine if your detector is photoelectric, ionizing or both, look on the front, back, or inside of the unit for:
  • Photoelectric or (P) =  photoelectric
  • Ion/Ionizer/Ionizing (i) = ionizing
  • Radioactive = ionizing
  • Americium = ionizing​
Single purpose Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors are not radioactive.
Does your detector have an embedded Lithium battery?
​If your smoke or combo detector does not wire directly into the building or have a removable battery, it has an embedded Lithium battery. Recycle these properly at the Eco Depot to prevent fires.
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smoke detectors and symbols or words indicating photoelectric or ionizing status