Management of Disused Ionization Chamber Smoke Detectors: Approaches and Practical Experiences

Ionization Chamber Smoke Detectors (ICSDs) contain relatively small amounts of radioactive material and pose little hazard on an individual basis, even when disposed of in municipal landfills. However, many Member States have taken the decision to collect all or many of their country's disused ICSDs in one or more locations. This often leads to the need for ICSDs to be managed as radioactive waste. The objective of this publication is to provide an overview of the management options for the ICSDs declared disused. It presents information on a variety of ICSD models. The approach and examples for landfill disposal of household ICSDs as consumer products exempted from regulatory control is discussed, and management options for disused ICSDs once they have been collected are presented. Various options for the safe management of disused ICSDs are covered including advantages and disadvantages based on Member State infrastructure, IAEA guidance and international safety standards.