radioactive smoke alarm disposal

3.5: web.apt`trash/radioactive smoke alarm disposal:
. ionization (radioactive) smoke detectors
often need to be scrapped after 10 years;
in Arizona's Pima county you can't trash them:
store them in a sealed plastic bag,
or send them to the manufacturer.
. some places allow them to be in landfills
as they are not federally regulated.
. the photoelectric detectors are not radioactive
and can recycled with other circuit boards.
. one popular brand suggests consulting your
fire department about disposal
rather than offering to allow returns.

Pima county won't bury anything radioactive:
Pima County, AZ Code of Ordinances/
Title 13 PUBLIC SERVICES/Division IV. Solid Waste/
Chapter 13.40 SOLID WASTE
. the following wastes are unacceptable for disposal at
any Pima County solid waste facility:
o. Radioactive wastes.
r. Any other waste determined by the director to be unacceptable.
(the Pima County department of environmental quality
director or authorized representative).

tucson`Disposing of Hazardous Waste:
Do NOT Bring: Radioactive Waste
customer Service: 520-791-3171

tucson`Los Reales Landfill:
Do not place these materials in garbage containers
or bring them to the landfill:
Regulated radioactive materials
Any wastes prohibited by Federal, State of Arizona
statute or regulation or City policy.
--
To recycle multiple computers: 623-7162
. waste that requires special handling:
Dead animals ($75/ton, $75/minimum)

no federal regulation:
It is [federally] legal to
dispose of smoke detectors in a landfill
because they are not considered hazardous waste.
However, if the waste from your town is incinerated,
smoke detectors containing Americium-241
should not be thrown in the trash.

Kidde 2011`throw away my alarms?:
NOTE: We recommend contacting your
local fire department
before disposing of any smoke alarms,
to verify compliance with any
jurisdictional ordinances or requirements.
IMPORTANT: Alarms should not be recycled.
Disposing of an alarm:
Typically, alarms may be disposed of in
your regular residential trash.
Verify with your local municipality
regarding disposal ordinances
before disposing of an alarm.

fema's U.S. Fire Administration. 2009:

Modern ionization smoke detectors contain
about 0.28 microgram (0.0000000098 ounce) of Americium-241,
which is a radionuclide.
Americium-241, in the form of americium dioxide,
is used as the source of ionizing radiation.
Americium has a half-life of 432.2 years,
and decays into Neptunium-237.
The activity level of radioactive material
is measured in units called Curies (Ci).
Ionization smoke detectors manufactured today use
no more than 1 micro Ci of Americium-241.
Americium-241 emits alpha particles
and low-energy gamma rays when it decays.
The low-energy alpha particles emitted from the detector
penetrate the air no more than a few centimeters (about 1 inch).
The gamma radiation is a low intensity gamma ray,
and much of this is absorbed by the case of the detector.
The Americium-241 used in smoke detectors
is bonded to a metallic foil,
which is sealed inside the ionization chamber.

According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),
this presents no hazard to users as long as it is undisturbed.
The NRC advises that the amount of radiation that escapes
from a modern smoke detector is roughly 3,000 times
less than the normal background radiation exposure rate
when measured 1 meter (3 feet) from the detector.
Background radiation consists of the radiation from
everyday sources such as the sun, rocks, soil, air, etc

Federal regulations do not address the
disposal of smoke detectors, ...;
However, there may be State or local requirements
applicable to disposal of ionization smoke detectors;
General Guidance:
Recycling is the preferred option
 for disposal of all fire alarm components.

Recommended Storage Guidelines
for Smoke Detectors containing less than
80 micro Ci of Americium-241
Each detector should be placed in
its own sealed plastic bag.
Where more than 400 detectors
are stored in the same room,
radiation monitoring devices should be used
to check the radiation levels in the area.