Hazardous recycling
How to Recycle Smoke Detectors
Ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, including sealed ten-year lithium units. The disposal answer is more permissive than the internet suggests, and the reason is regulatory rather than reassuring hand-waving.
Special handlingUpdated Jul 2026
Quick answer
Contrary to what most guidance says, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission permits household ionization detectors to be thrown away as ordinary trash, because they are distributed under a specific exemption and hold no more than 1 microcurie of americium-241. Many people prefer not to, and household hazardous waste will take them. Take the battery out first and recycle it separately. Never take the unit apart.
- Recyclable
- Not curbside
How to Prepare
- 1Take the alarm down and remove the replaceable battery, which is recycled separately
- 2Do not open, dismantle, or try to extract the source chamber
- 3Check for a manufacturer mail-back if you prefer not to bin it, noting these are own-brand only and usually charge a fee