Battery recovery partnership aims to improve every step of the recycling ecosystem

The Battery Network, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), and the National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF) have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen battery safety education, expand responsible recovery efforts, and provide additional resources to the waste and recycling industry. 

Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the collaboration aims to advance education, outreach, industry engagement, and battery collection initiatives to improve battery safety and address evolving industry needs. 

Expanding resources focused on safe recycling practices

Building on NWRF's "Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!" national battery safety campaign featuring Woodsy Owl, which encourages consumers to keep batteries out of household trash and recycling bins, the organizations will expand public education around proper battery recovery and disposal while equipping waste and recycling professionals with practical tools and resources to manage batteries throughout the collection and recycling process safely.

The collaboration leverages the complementary expertise of two organizations with deep experience in battery stewardship and the waste and recycling industry. For more than 30 years, The Battery Network has led battery stewardship, collection, recycling, and safety initiatives across North America, while NWRA has served as the leading voice for the private-sector waste and recycling industry through advocacy, education, and member resources.

"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. "This partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing battery safety, expanding responsible recycling and building the infrastructure needed to support a more electrified future."

"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. "By partnering with The Battery Network, we are combining our strengths to expand public education, support safe battery recovery, and provide our members with the tools and resources they need to reduce fires and protect workers, facilities, firefighters, and communities. Together, we can build a stronger culture of battery safety while making it easier for consumers to do the right thing."