Download the PDF file: Smoke Alarm Disposal

All smoke alarms have a recommended service life of 10 years under normal operating conditions (Australian Standard 3786) after which time they should be replaced. This includes hard-wired smoke alarms.

In the past, disposal of ionisation smoke alarms has presented a problem because they contain a minute particle of radioactive material. Ionisation type smoke alarms can be identified by the black and yellow radiation symbol which appears on the smoke alarm casing.

The Radiation Protection Division of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) reviewed legislation in light of best practice in Australia and internationally. In early 2009 it was made legal in South Australia to dispose of small quantities of domestic smoke alarms that contain radioactive material in domestic waste.

An exemption under the Act permits up to two domestic ionisation type smoke alarms to be disposed of in domestic waste during any period of seven days.

Prior to 2009 the Australian Standard for smoke alarms required smoke alarms that contained radioactive material to display a label advising that they should be disposed of by returning them to the supplier or the health department. Following the change in legislation in South Australia in 2009, this advice can now be ignored.

For more information visit http://www.epa.sa.gov.au and search for ‘Smoke Alarm disposal’.

Old photo-electric smoke alarms that have no radioactive materials and therefore no radiation symbol can be safely discarded with normal domestic rubbish.

For smoke alarms containing removable batteries, remove the batteries prior to disposal and place the batteries in your local battery recycling facility. This is also applicable for hard-wired smoke alarms with removable back-up batteries.

For further advice:

Email: mfs.communitysafety@eso.sa.gov.au

Phone: (08) 8204 3611

Country Callers: 1300 737 637