Hear Today, Green Tomorrow
How it started
I've worn hearing aids for as long as I can remember. They're not just devices to me — they're how I participate in the world. Every conversation, every classroom, every moment of music or laughter that I might otherwise miss passes through those small, remarkable machines.
So when I learned that hearing aid batteries — the tiny zinc-air cells that power these devices — contain heavy metals that don't belong in landfills, I felt it personally. And when I discovered that Carlisle already has a battery recycling system that most hearing aid users don't know about, I felt something else: the particular frustration of a problem that has a solution, but nobody has connected the dots yet.
That's where Hear Today, Green Tomorrow began
The Problem
Hearing aid batteries are small. Easy to overlook. Easy to throw away without a second thought.
But there are over 400,000 hearing aid users in Massachusetts alone. Each hearing aid uses between 100 and 150 batteries over its lifetime. That's hundreds of millions of small batteries containing zinc and heavy metals — quietly accumulating in landfills across the state.
The frustrating part? The solution already exists in every town and state. Like in my town, Carlisle's Transfer Station accepts household batteries for recycling. But most families with hearing aid users - including many in our own community have never been told their batteries qualify. The gap isn't infrastructure. It's more about the awareness.
The Plan
Hear Today, Green Tomorrow is a focused one-year community recycling initiative for Carlisle, MA. Starting September 2026, small branded collection bins will be placed at 5–6 high-traffic community locations — the Transfer Station (primary hub), Gleason Public Library, Carlisle Public School, Recreation Department, Council on Aging, and Town Hall. Batteries collected at these locations flow to the Transfer Station, then on to Global Recycling Technologies in Stoughton, MA for safe processing. Drop-off frequency will be determined by weekly collection volume. At the end of one year, I'll compile and share a full community impact report — total batteries collected, heavy metals diverted from landfill, and lessons learned for any community that wants to do the same.
Why this matters to me
Accessibility and sustainability are two conversations that rarely happen in the same room. Advocates for hearing loss focus rightly on making the world more accessible for people who use hearing devices. Environmental advocates focus on reducing waste and protecting our communities. But nobody was asking: what happens to the devices or the batteries themselves when we're done with them?
I think that question matters. Not just environmentally - but as a statement about how we see the hearing loss community. When we design recycling systems without thinking about hearing aid users, we're not just creating environmental waste. We're sending a message that this community wasn't part of the plan.
This initiative is my way of saying: you were always part of the plan. We just needed someone to build the bridge.
Ways to Help
Drop off used hearing aid batteries
Bring them to any of our collection bins across Carlisle — at the Transfer Station (battery bucket, location #12), Gleason Public Library, Carlisle Public School, Recreation Department, Council on Aging, or Town Hall.
Collect at home first
Keep a small jar or container at home to collect used batteries — bring them in one trip when you have a handful. Every battery counts.
Spread the word in Carlisle
Tell your neighbors, friends, and anyone in town who uses hearing aids — most people simply don't know this is possible. A quick conversation can make a real difference.
Share within Carlisle community groups
Pass this along through the Carlisle school newsletter, parent groups, Council on Aging, or town email lists — the more Carlisle residents who know, the greater our impact.
Join me at the next Household Hazardous Waste Day
Carlisle holds this event once a year — the 2027 date will be announced later this year. Check back here for updates, or follow along on Instagram @aarianamathslayer
Want to host a collection bin?
If you run a Carlisle community space or organization and would like to host a collection point, reach out through my contact form — I'd love to work with you.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.