Smoke Detector Recycling
Recycle your smoke detector for free at City Hall. City Hall is currently closed to the public. Please do not leave smoke alarms outside of City Hall. You can dispose of smoke detectors in the garbage during the pandemic.
How to recycle your smoke detectors
It is legal in Washington to dispose ionization detectors in the trash.
Kirkland residents are encouraged to recycle it for free at City Hall's Recycling Center in the downstairs lobby.The Recycling Center is located in the downstairs lobby of City Hall. All smoke alarms are accepted. Please bring only the smoke alarm itself, not the ceiling bracket. Throw away the ceiling bracket.
Why recycle your smoke detectors?
There are two common types of smoke detectors in homes: ionization and photoelectric detectors. Ionization smoke detectors are the most common. They contain a very small amount of radioactive material known as Americium-241. Photoelectric-type smoke detectors do not contain any radioactive material.
On your wall at home, smoke detectors presents no danger. If they get broken open in a landfill, the material can pose a health hazard.
What happens to recycled smoke detectors?
Detectors are sent to Curie Environmental. They safely dispose of the radioactive material in a designed landfill and recycle the remaining metals and plastics.