Safe disposal of Smoke Alarms

Domestic smoke alarms all have a little sticker warning of the radioactive substance contained within and referring you to your local authority for disposal. It appears this, while totally understandable and no doubt required by law, is a little overkill.

This from The New Zealand Fire Service
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Ionisation smoke alarms contain a radioactive source (americium-241) however this is very small, typically 37 kBq (kilobecquerels) or 1 microcurie.

To put this in context:
- New Zealand soils contain, on average, naturally occurring alpha emitting radioactive material equivalent to about 13 smoke alarms per cubic metre.
- The average New Zealand brick house has a radioactive content equivalent to that contained in 300 - 400 smoke alarms.

Therefore, the National Radiation Laboratory recommends that the safe method of disposal of ionization smoke alarms is by means of conventional refuse collection and subsequent landfill. This also applies to photo electric alarms as well.
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More info can be found here

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