Question:
Can anyone tell me the most environmentally safe way to dispose of a smoke detector/fire alarm. I understand that they contain slightly radioactive material.

Answer: -If a smoke detector contains radioactive material, it says so on the lable, it will also tell you to mail it back to the maker for disposal.

If it is a ion or photo type of smoke detector toss it in the trash, no wories.

-Ionazation detectors are manufactured with mostly Amercium which is a radioactive element and are to be mailed back to the manufactuer. as these units are concidered hazardous waste in many states including mine Pa. you risk criminal penalty for not disposing of properly. this is also true for most states with rechargable lead acid batterys they must be recycled dumping in trash will land you in jail.