On behalf of the button cell battery/mercury recovery rebate program at the Hopkinton Senior Center, I want to thank you for participating in the collecting of button batteries over the past several years. Our goal was twofold: 1, to remove mercury from the municipal waste stream and 2, to use this as a fundraiser for Hopkinton senior activities.

As you know, mercury is poison for the environment. Batteries contain a small amount of mercury that were being thrown into our landfills. Wheelabrator Technologies, a recycling company, has been collaborating with local towns including Hopkinton in collecting the batteries and supporting us with funding projects.

The button cell battery rebate program has been a HUGE success! We have been part of saving over 67 pounds of mercury from the municipal waste stream. Due to new technology, button batteries do not need mercury to work anymore. Consequently, this program is ending.

Thanks to town businesses, town offices, churches, post offices, audiologists, shops and more for collecting the batteries. Thanks also to Friends of the Seniors and the office staff at the Senior Center who have been monitoring our collection sites. Most importantly, thanks to all the individuals that kept a tiny bowl on their sink or bureau collecting batteries from their hearing aids for this collection.

— Carol Mecagni, for the Hopkinton Senior Center

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