NWRF named to “Best of CES” list

The Arlington, Virginia-based National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF) has been named to Exhibitor Magazine’s 2026 “Best of CES” list, an annual recognition honoring exhibitors at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) whose exhibits demonstrated “exceptional strategic design, storytelling and effective use of space.”

Selected by the publication’s editorial team, the NWRF’s exhibit was recognized at No. 20 on the list among more than 4,100 exhibitors at the event, which took place Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. The NWRF’s immersive exhibit was designed to spotlight its national battery safety campaign, “Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!” and communicate the risks of improper battery disposal while equipping attendees with safe battery management, recovery and disposal information.

“This campaign is about prevention and protection,” says Michael E. Hoffman, president and CEO of the 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 of Germany, 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 lithium-ion batteries enter homes, businesses and the waste stream. The exhibit included a short, interactive quiz to reinforce safe handling practices. Visitors also were directed to BatterySafetyNow.org, where individuals can locate proper recycling options by zip code and battery type.

“Our goal was to create an environment that invited conversation and made a technical issue approachable,” Genevieve O’Sullivan, chief of communications for the NWRA, says. “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.”