Since 2023, the city of Mercer Island has collected around 4,000 pounds of batteries through its free battery recycling service via a collection box at the Mercer Island Thrift Shop.

A city social media post notes, “we’re proud to have kept (the batteries) out of landfills.”

To ensure that residents’ batteries safely make it to the out-of-state recycling facility, the city needs Islanders’ help.

When shipping the batteries, “We must comply with federal safety regulations. All batteries must be either taped or individually bagged to ensure terminals do not make contact and combust, which could result in fires, personal injuries, or worse. Batteries containing lithium are particularly prone to combustion. Because lithium batteries may be hard to distinguish, please tape or bag all batteries. Bags are available at the collection box,” the city posted.

Mercer Island student Bowen Nago used his Make a Difference project — introduced by teacher Kirsten Bourke — to bring a battery and cellphone collection box to Mercer Island, according to a previous Reporter story. Nago contacted the city of Mercer Island with his idea, which was passed on to the city councilmembers and given the green light because they were so impressed with his plan. It was soon set in motion.