ARLINGTON, VA – In a show known for flashing screens, AI-driven robotics, and sprawling technology showcases, the National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF) took a different approach at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, distinguishing itself among more than 4,100 exhibitors at the world’s largest technology event. The Foundation was named to EXHIBITOR Magazine’s “Best of CES” list, an annual recognition honoring exhibits that demonstrate exceptional strategic design, storytelling, and effective use of space. Selected by the publication’s editorial team, NWRF’s exhibit was recognized at #20 on the list for translating a complex public safety challenge into an engaging and memorable experience.
NWRF launched its national battery safety campaign, “Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!” at CES. In partnership with the United States Forest Service and Woodsy Owl, the Foundation addressed a growing public safety issue: thousands of fires each year are caused by improperly discarded batteries, creating serious risks for waste and recycling workers, waste facilities, communities and first responders. The immersive exhibit was designed to clearly communicate those risks while equipping attendees with practical steps to ensure batteries are managed, recovered, and disposed of safely.
“This campaign is about prevention and protection,” said Michael E. Hoffman, president and CEO of NWRF and National Waste & Recycling Association. “Battery-related fires are one of the fastest-growing safety challenges facing our industry. ‘Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!’ provides clear, actionable guidance that empowers individuals to reduce those risks. Raising awareness at a global platform like CES helps extend that message beyond our industry and reinforces the shared responsibility to keep our frontline waste employees, waste facilities, communities and first responders safe.”
Designed and fabricated by ET Global and CLYDE, the exhibit featured a restored 1971 Airstream trailer set within a campsite-inspired environment. Attendees were invited inside the trailer to identify the number of battery-powered devices in everyday life, reinforcing how frequently batteries, and specifically lithium-ion batteries enter homes, businesses, and ultimately the waste stream. A short interactive quiz reinforced safe handling practices and directed visitors to BatterySafetyNow.org, where individuals can locate proper recycling options by The Battery Network zip code and battery type.
“Our goal was to create an environment that invited conversation and made a technical issue approachable,” said Genevieve O’Sullivan, chief of communications for NWRA. “The exhibit combined storytelling, interactivity, and clear calls to action so attendees could quickly understand the problem and leave with a practical next step. Our booth exemplified that effective engagement is not about scale or spectacle; it’s about ensuring the message resonates and drives changes in behavior.”
Through its CES activation, NWRF expanded awareness of battery fire risks beyond the waste and recycling industry, reaching technology manufacturers, retailers, media audiences, and some of the most prolific battery users, the tech community. The Foundation will continue advancing its national education efforts in 2026 through partnerships, outreach, and digital engagement. For more information about the “Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!” campaign, visit www.BatterySafetyNow.org.
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ABOUT NWRF
The National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF) is the charitable arm of the National Waste & Recycling Association, a 501(c)(6) organization. Operating independently as a 501(c)(3), the Foundation promotes public education, safety, and research initiatives that benefit the waste and recycling industry and the general public. Current efforts include a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of improper lithium-ion battery disposal and a scholarship program supporting future leaders in the industry.
About NWRA
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that manage solid, industrial/hazardous, medical, and construction/demolition debris waste, and represent equipment manufacturers and distributors, and a variety of other professional service providers. For more information about NWRA, please visit www.wasterecycling.org.
NWRA Contact
Genevieve O’Sullivan
National Waste & Recycling Association
gosullivan@wasterecycling.org
