Smoke Detector

Alternative ways to recycle
Illegal in Garbage & Drains
E-Waste

Both ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors can be disposed of at one of our local E-Waste facilities in SLO County. 

Residential E-Waste Drop-Off Sites

Chicago Grade Landfill  
E-Waste Drop-off Hours: 
Monday – Saturday 8am – 3pm 
2290 Homestead Road, Templeton, CA 
(805) 466 – 2985  
Map & Directions  

Cold Canyon Landfill 
E-Waste Drop-off Hours:
 Monday – Saturday 8am – 3pm 
2268 Carpenter Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo, CA   
(805) 549 – 8332  
Map & Directions  
*A safety vest is required for disposal and can be purchased at the gate. 

Heritage Ranch Community Services District  
E-Waste Drop-off Hours: 
 Friday 12pm – 2pm 
4870 Heritage Road, Paso Robles, CA   
(805) 782 – 8530 
Map & Directions
*For residents of Heritage Ranch only

Morro Bay Household Hazardous Waste Facility  
E-Waste Drop-off Hours:
 Saturday 11am – 3pm
160 Atascadero Road, Morro Bay, CA
(805) 782 – 8530
Map & Directions  

Nipomo Household Hazardous Waste Facility
E-Waste Drop-off Hours: Saturday 11am – 3pm
509 Southland Street, Nipomo, CA
(805) 782 – 8530
Map & Directions  

Paso Robles Landfill
E-Waste Drop-off Hours: Monday – Saturday 8am – 3pm
9000 CA Hwy. 46 East, Paso Robles, CA
(805) 238 – 2028
Map & Directions  

Smoke detectors can also be mailed back to the manufacturer for disposal. Make sure to remove batteries from smoke detectors before disposal. 

Batteries Are Hazardous Waste

Remove batteries from the smoke detector because they are hazardous waste. Then dispose of the smoke detector separately. Find out how to dispose of batteries.

Toxic Symbol

Return Radioactive Detectors to Manufacturer

Ionization smoke detectors emit small amounts of radioactive material, and can be identified by their warning labels. Return these to the manufacturer by mail. Find out from the U.S. Postal Service how to return these detectors.

Photoelectric Detectors Are E-Waste

Photoelectric detectors will not have a warning label, so dispose of these detectors as e-waste.

Alternative Ways to Recycle

First Alert Disposal Program

First Alert will dispose of up to four ionization smoke detectors. These must be First Alert, BRK, Family Gard or Onelink brand. If you have more than four detectors, they will charge a small fee. Detectors are disposed of legally, and components are recycled when they are able to. Learn more about First Alert’s Disposal Program.

Recycle Your Smoke Detector

If you wish to recycle your old smoke detectors, there is one program that will do so, run by Curie Environmental Services. It costs as little as $8 plus shipping to recycle one old smoke detector.

Did You Know?

Safety Advantages of Different Detectors

Smoke detectors sense smoke and flame differently, which give them their own advantages. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that you have one of each type at your home. Ionization smoke detectors are the type that sense a fast-moving, flaming fire more quickly, while photoelectric detectors are more sensitive to slow, smoky fire.