ANSWER: Yes, at the Maine Environmental Depot (207-786-7390) at the Lewiston Solid Waste facility, 424 River Road in Lewiston. The organization states: “Do not crush smoke detectors. Each smoke detector is $5 for disposal.
“Although it is legal to dispose of your ionization detector in the trash, we encourage you to return the product back to the manufacturer. … The entire smoke detector needs to be returned to the manufacturer or store. When sending back a smoke detector, do not take it apart. The batteries, however, should be removed and properly disposed of or recycled. No special shipping is needed for your smoke detector: just put it in a box, with some padding, and mail it.”
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency comes this information: “Both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms contain plastic and electronic circuit boards and in some cases batteries (alkaline or lithium). Ionization technology also includes a chamber containing radioactive material incorporated into a gold matrix.
“EPA’s household waste program encourages waste reduction and minimization. State and local practices for safe disposal of smoke alarms vary, but most communities seek to limit the amount of material that requires disposal in a municipal solid waste landfills and incinerators. Waste minimization reduces costs and protects the environment.
“Some State Radiation Control Programs conduct an annual round-up of ionization smoke alarms similar to the roundup of batteries or hazardous household chemicals. Other state or local governments recommend that you return the used smoke alarm to the supplier. The address of the supplier is usually listed in the product warranty or user’s manual. If the smoke detector has a alkaline or lithium battery, check with your local community recycling program for disposal instructions.”
Maine government sources state: “Federal law requires manufacturers to take back smoke detectors that contain a radioactive source.”
Here is a list, supplied by New Hampshire government, of some of the manufacturers that offer free or low-cost take-back programs for smoke detectors:
Firex or Kidde, 1016 Corporate Park Dr., Mebane, NC 27302; email dawn.stout@kiddeus.com or call 919-304-8295.
First Alert, BRK, Dicon Global Inc. / BRK Canada, 845 Intermodal Drive, Unit #1 Brampton, ON L6T 0C6; email jsmith@diconglobal.com; or call 905-488-7230.
System Sensor, 3825 Ohio Ave., St. Charles, IL 60174; email INFO@SystemSensor.com or call 800-736-7672.
Maine requires manufacturers of mercury-added lamps to implement a product stewardship program for the recycling of these bulbs from households. The manufacturers’ program will provide containers to municipal waste collection sites and to retailers for storage, shipping and recycling of the bulbs. Two numbers to call about CFL bulbs are 207-287-7853 and 207-485-8160. In Norway, you can dispose of CFL bulbs at Oxford County Regional Solid Waste Corp., 39 Brown St. In Lewiston, at the facility listed above for the smoke detectors.
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