OK, completely 100% off-topic, not even remotely unix related. But where else can I get the ear of a bunch of Winnipeggers?
Where the @#%^@ do I recycle fire alarms? E-waste won't take it because it contains hazardous material. Nothing on the City of Winnipeg site mentions fire alarms, even in their search function. Google doesn't know. The normal liquid-hazardous-waste place doesn't list them as acceptable.
So what does one do with these things that contain radioactive material? Next step: garbage, as I'm sure 99.9% of Winnipeggers do.
According to the greenmanitoba.ca site,
SMOKE DETECTORS
Up to 10 residential smoke detectors can be put out for regular garbage collection. More than 10 residential or any commercial smoke detectors require special arrangements and approval for disposal at the City's landfill because of the radioactive material in them, so contact 311.
They do have radioactive material in them, but not much.
On Wed, Dec 17, 2014 at 3:31 PM, Trevor Cordes trevor@tecnopolis.ca wrote:
OK, completely 100% off-topic, not even remotely unix related. But where else can I get the ear of a bunch of Winnipeggers?
Where the @#%^@ do I recycle fire alarms? E-waste won't take it because it contains hazardous material. Nothing on the City of Winnipeg site mentions fire alarms, even in their search function. Google doesn't know. The normal liquid-hazardous-waste place doesn't list them as acceptable.
So what does one do with these things that contain radioactive material? Next step: garbage, as I'm sure 99.9% of Winnipeggers do. _______________________________________________ Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
I made some calls. None of them know how to deal with this. I called Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba, who referred me to Electronic Products Recycling Association. They don't have a clue. The City of Winnipeg website has a referral to Miller Environmental Corporation for hazardous waste. They Won't take it either. But when I phoned them, the woman looked up the regulations. Up to 10 residential smoke detectors can go in regular garbage. There is absolutely no way to recycle, but you can throw them out.
Rob Dyck
-----Original Message----- From: roundtable-bounces@muug.mb.ca [mailto:roundtable-bounces@muug.mb.ca] On Behalf Of Trevor Cordes Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 3:32 PM To: MUUG Roundtable Subject: [RndTbl] fire alarms
OK, completely 100% off-topic, not even remotely unix related. But where else can I get the ear of a bunch of Winnipeggers?
Where the @#%^@ do I recycle fire alarms? E-waste won't take it because it contains hazardous material. Nothing on the City of Winnipeg site mentions fire alarms, even in their search function. Google doesn't know. The normal liquid-hazardous-waste place doesn't list them as acceptable.
So what does one do with these things that contain radioactive material? Next step: garbage, as I'm sure 99.9% of Winnipeggers do. _______________________________________________ Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
On 2014-12-17 Robert Dyck wrote:
I made some calls. None of them know how to deal with this. I called
[...]
for hazardous waste. They Won't take it either. But when I phoned
Thanks Robert & Kevin! I'm puzzled by the lackadaisical attitude towards these things by the Thou Shalt Recycle Everything Powers That Be. The alarms say right on them not to throw them in the garbage.
(Also wondering why there isn't this info on the CoWinnipeg site which lists nearly everything else known to man.)
<rant to="no one in particular"> The alarms are mostly normal circuit-board with normal active & passive electronic parts. Minus the radioactive self-contained bit, the thing really should go to an e-waste place. So instead of treating the nasty radioactive bit as more deserving of diversion from the landfill, we compound the error by saying the normally-recycled PCB bits need to be landfilled too. Ironic.
So the mercury in CCFL's and the lead in pre-ROHS motherboards are too dangerous in the landfill but some Americium-241 is hunky dory? Drink that in your water supply! </rant>
According to this site...
http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/FireMarshal/FAQ/SmokeAlarms/OFM_FAQ_S...
"What is the proper way for me to dispose of my old smoke alarms?
Smoke alarms from households, containing not more than 185 kilobequerels (kBq) or 5 microcurries (uCi) of americium 241, are classified as domestic waste. A typical smoke alarm contains approximately 33.3 kBq (0.9 uCi) of americium 241. Homeowners should dispose of smoke alarms that are at the end of their useful life with their regular waste. This is in line with the provisions of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Regulations and the Ministry of the Environment’s Regulation 347 General – Waste Management. If household smoke alarms are collected in larger amounts or contain radium (this will be indicated on the smoke alarm) contact the CNSC at 1-800-668-5284 to determine the proper disposal procedure. At this time, the Office of the Fire Marshal is not aware of any take back programs, but certain manufacturers may take back individual smoke alarms."
This seems consistent with what others have said.
I know that Rona accepts some products for recycling, such as CFL bulbs. I couldn't find any information on their web site, but it might be worth a phone call to see if they'll take them. If not, I guess your best option is just tossing them in the garbage, as unappealing as that may seem.
Gilbert
On 17/12/2014 3:31 PM, Trevor Cordes wrote:
OK, completely 100% off-topic, not even remotely unix related. But where else can I get the ear of a bunch of Winnipeggers?
Where the @#%^@ do I recycle fire alarms? E-waste won't take it because it contains hazardous material. Nothing on the City of Winnipeg site mentions fire alarms, even in their search function. Google doesn't know. The normal liquid-hazardous-waste place doesn't list them as acceptable.
So what does one do with these things that contain radioactive material? Next step: garbage, as I'm sure 99.9% of Winnipeggers do.
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Gilbert E. Detillieux -
Kevin McGregor -
Robert Dyck -
Trevor Cordes