Dear Steve, EPPNet and other lists:
The text provided by Steve in his message below appears to be originally
from the Consumer Recycling Guide - Recycling Obscure Materials
(http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/hard.html). One of the first, and
most important, rules regarding Internet based information is to always
confirm the accuracy of any Net-based information. I called the First Alert
consumer affairs number and learned the following:
1. The correct mailing address is:
First Alert
ATT: Disposal
3920 Enterprise Court
Aurora, IL 60504
2. The statement in Steve's message, "They can dispose of any brand.", can
be easily misunderstood even though it does refer to First Alert brands in
the previous sentence. To restate this information - First Alert will only
accept for recycling smoke detectors manufactured under its brand name or
related brands such as BRK. A key clue to determining if the detector is an
acceptable brand is if the manufacturer address is Aurora, IL. When in
doubt, always call the telephone number (if provided) on the product
packaging. I was told that non-acceptable brands will be refused and
returned to the sender.
3. The plastic casing is recycled. The radioactive material in the detector
will be recovered and sent to a company that handles low level radiactive
materials. The representative who provided this information was not certain
what was done with this material.
4. The two service representatives I spoke to stated that information on how
to recycle First Alert smoke detectors is printed on the package and on the
enclosed user manual. I just recently purchased a First Alert Double Sensor
and could not find this information in either location. I would be
interested in knowing if anyone can find how-to-recycl-this-product
information on any First Alert smoke detector product package or manual.
5. There is no information on detector product recycling at the First Alert
web site (http://www.firstalert.com/). Curiously, I could not find any
e-mail or telephone contact info either. Again, I was told by the First
altert service representatives I spoke to that the web site was being
redesigned and they believed this information would be posted. I strongly
suggested that this information be made available. I would suggest as well
that any person or organization interested in smoke detector recycling
should contact the First Alert consumer telephone number (1-800-323-9005)
and encourage them to promote better public information on their product
recycling program.
Sincerely,
Roger M. Guttentag
610-584-8836
rgutten@concentric.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Leuty <SCLEUT@kalcounty.com>
To: Environmentally-preferable products procurement
<eppnet@lilith.webrover.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 8:30 AM
Subject: [eppnet] A Smoke Detector response
Here's a response from a colleague who coordinates our local Household
Hazardous Waste Program:
Send unwanted smoke detectors to the manufacturer. Most detectors are made
by First Alert Corporation (Mailing address: First Alert, Radioactive Waste
Disposal, 780 McClure Rd, Aurora IL 60504-2495; 800-323-9005). Many other
detectors are made by a Canadian firm called American Sensors
(800-387-4219). Both companies sell detectors under many different brand
names. They can dispose of any brand. Send detectors by surface mail or UPS
Ground.
>>> "Virginia Lipscomb" <vlipscomb@mde.state.md.us> 08/08/00 08:04AM >>>
I recently got a question about what to do with old smoke detectors. Does
anyone know if these are being recycled?
Virginia Lipscomb
Maryland Department of the Environment
Planning and Recycling Division - WAS
2500 Broening Highway
Baltimore MD 21224
410-631-3314 Fax 410-631-3321
vlipscomb@mde.state.md.us
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