The Battery Network, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) and the National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF) formalized a collaboration aimed at strengthening public education and industry practices around battery safety and end-of-life management.
Coordinated outreach and industry tools
The partnership, established through a Memorandum of Understanding, will focus on expanding educational campaigns, developing outreach efforts and producing resources for waste and recycling professionals to handle batteries safely during collection and recycling operations. The organizations said the joint effort is intended to improve battery stewardship across North America and support the industry as consumer and commercial battery use continues to grow.
Leaders of the organizations outlined complementary capabilities: The Battery Network brings decades of battery stewardship and recovery experience, while NWRA and its foundation offer broad advocacy and education reach within the private-sector waste and recycling community. Together, they aim to align public-facing messaging with practical tools for front-line workers.
"As batteries become an increasingly important part of everyday life, so does the need for trusted systems that help consumers and businesses manage them safely at end of life," said Leo Raudys, president and CEO of The Battery Network.
Officials said the collaboration will build on existing initiatives, including a national consumer campaign from NWRF that uses the Woodsy Owl character to encourage people to avoid disposing of batteries in household trash or curbside recycling streams.
What the partnership will prioritize
- Expanding public education on proper battery disposal and collection locations.
- Providing practical safety and handling resources for waste and recycling personnel.
- Coordinating industry engagement to increase battery collection and responsible recycling.
NWRA and NWRF leaders emphasized that battery safety is an urgent operational challenge for the waste and recycling industry and that no single organization can manage the issue alone. The groups said combining their networks and technical experience will help create standardized approaches and materials that can be deployed at scale.
"Battery safety is one of the most pressing challenges facing the waste and recycling industry today, and no single organization can solve it alone," said Michael E. Hoffman, president and CEO of NWRA and NWRF.
Roles and expertise
Each partner brings distinct strengths to the agreement. The Battery Network has led battery stewardship and collection initiatives for more than 30 years, focusing on safe recycling and recovery. NWRA represents private-sector waste and recycling companies, providing advocacy and member services, while NWRF executes public education campaigns aimed at changing consumer behavior.
| Organization | Primary focus |
|---|---|
| The Battery Network | Battery stewardship, collection and recycling experience |
| NWRA | Industry advocacy and resources for private-sector waste companies |
| NWRF | Public education campaigns and consumer outreach |
Officials said the partnership will also support existing campaigns such as NWRF's "Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!" effort, which seeks to steer consumers away from tossing batteries into household trash or curbside recycling. The campaign employs the Woodsy Owl character to make the safety message accessible to broad audiences.
Implications for schools and community education
Although the announcement centered on the waste and recycling industry, the partnership's public-education components may extend to community and school outreach, where clear messaging about battery hazards can reduce accidental fires and contamination. Providing materials and guidance tailored to educators and community groups could help reinforce proper disposal habits among students and families.
By aligning industry operational guidance with consumer-facing education, the three organizations aim to reduce safety incidents during collection and processing and to increase rates of responsible battery recovery. The memorandum formalizes a coordinated approach to a problem that stakeholders say will grow in importance as battery-powered devices proliferate.
Additional details about specific programs, timelines or funding for the collaboration were not disclosed in the announcement.
