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Smoke detectors
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In Calgary, put this in the
Special handling
Take smoke and CO detectors to a household hazardous waste drop-off.
Also searched as: smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector.
Why it can’t go in a cart
Ionization smoke detectors contain a tiny sealed radioactive source (americium-241) — harmless in use, but not something for a landfill or shredder. The hazardous-waste stream routes them to specialized handling.
Get it right
- Remove the battery first and recycle it separately at the same drop-off.
- Eco Centres accept detectors free of charge.
- Replacing detectors every 10 years is the fire-safety rule of thumb — check the manufacture date on the back.
Related items
⚠️ Household batteries⚠️ Paint⚠️ Fire extinguishers⚠️ Fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs⚠️ Propane tanks⚠️ Cleaning chemicals
Know your pickup days too
Look up your black, blue and green cart collection schedule by address.
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