How Come You Can’t Take The Batteries Out Of Your Smoke Detectors?

All of the smoke detectors in my buildings have sealed battery compartments in them. That means that you cannot replace the batteries or remove them without tearing the smoke detector apart and destroying it. I use smoke detectors with sealed batteries for your safety. Tenants often remove the batteries from their smoke detectors, and that is dangerous. What typically happens is this – a smoke detector goes off while someone is cooking, a tenant removes the batteries from the smoke detector but never puts the batteries back in. This has led to many, many deaths, including a few here in Berkeley. If you have a smoke detector that is not working properly or not working at all, contact me, and I will replace it immediately. Do not try to open the smoke detector or throw it in the trash. Smoke detectors are considered toxic waste, and you can be fined for putting one in your garbage can.

Things You Can and Cannot Put In Your Garbage Can.

Did you know that you can be fined up to $25,000 for putting a used flashlight battery in your garbage can? I don’t know if anyone has ever actually been fined that much for putting a battery in their garbage can, but the penalties for putting batteries and CFL or other florescent light bulbs in your garbage can can be huge. In California, it is illegal to put electronic products of any kind in your garbage can. This includes telephones, cell phones, radios, VCRs, DVD players, televisions, computer monitors, and microwave ovens. Electronic products like these contain chemicals and toxic metals including lead, mercury, and chromium. It is also illegal to put non-electronic thermometers and thermostats in the garbage can if they contain mercury bulbs. All of these products can be taken to any Green Citizen store in the bay area. There are lots of them. There is one in downtown Berkeley. Green Citizen will accept used electronic products for free disposal. If you have other things that you want to dispose of but can’t legally put in your garbage can, like paint or used motor oil, call me and I will tell you where you can take such items.