[ RadSafe ] Disposal/Recycle Options for Smoke Detectors

[Michael LaFontaine, P. Phys.]

Shane, your first point of contact should be your local (municipal 
and state) authorities. Some municipalities have established 
recycling depots for smoke detectors. Provide the date of manufacture 
re. the Am-241 model (t 1/2 = 4.33 years, so disposal may be fairly 
straight forward and inexpensive). Ra-226 should NOT be directed to 
any municipal waste site.

Regards,

Michael LaFontaine

At 02:35 PM 22/09/2011, you wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>We have a client requesting disposal options for two smoke detectors.
>They took it upon themselves to look into options and received 
>something of a
>sticker shock; consequently, I was approached to assist.  See their
>description below.
>
>"We have 2 ionization smoke detectors that we need to get rid of.  Their
>descriptions are as follows:
>
>-  A 6" (case diameter) unit made  by Ademco, model: 590, serial #E100475.
>Radioactive Material = Ra 226 (.05  microCuries).
>
>-  An 8" unit made by Pyrotronics  Canada Ltd, model #DU-3. Radioactive
>Material = AM 241 (0.8 microCuries  max)."
>
>
>My understanding was that such units were distributed, under proper NRC
>exempt distribution licensing, to persons/entities exempt from licensing;
>therefore, they can be disposed as municipal waste.  I fact, I recall
>regulatory guidance (NUREG 1717?) that evaluated the entire life 
>cycle of such
>products from a dose standpoint.
>
>Can someone direct me to either the applicable regulations and/or guidance
>that supports my understanding, or, in the case of my  misunderstanding, to
>viable disposal or recycling options that do  not require the liquidation
>assets?
>
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Shane  Brightwell, MS, CHP
>President
>Professional Radiation Consulting,  Inc.
>7 Balmoral Drive
>Pittstown, NJ 08867
>Office: (908)  730-9224
>Fax: (720) 294-1153
>Mobile: (631) 278-0610
>E-mail:  proradcon at aol.com
>
>This e-mail contains information that may be  Confidential and Privileged.
>Unless you are the intended recipient you may  not use, copy, disseminate
>or disclose to anyone the message or any information  contained in the
>message.  If you have received the message in error,  please advise 
>the sender by
>reply e-mail and delete the  message.
>_______________________________________________
>You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list
>
>Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and 
>understood the RadSafe rules. These can be found at: 
>http://health.phys.iit.edu/radsaferules.html
>
>For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other 
>settings visit: http://health.phys.iit.edu

Michael LaFontaine, P. Phys.