'Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!' campaign to nationally debut at CES

The National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF), Arlington, Virginia, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service have announced that the “Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!” public service announcement campaign will make its national debut at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

At CES, held Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas, attendees will be able to interact with the campaign inside a campsite-themed booth with a Woodsy Owl-branded Airstream trailer, which the NWRF says is designed to make battery safety approachable for families and technology users. The activation will feature an interactive battery identification quiz game, educational displays to help spot common fire risks, giveaways and industry-insider talks highlighting how battery disposal impacts recycling systems and worker safety.

The national launch follows pilot campaigns in the nation’s capital, Washington state and Illinois, where the campaign sought to raise awareness about the growing number of fires caused by improperly discarded batteries. Local community events collected more than 1,500 pounds of batteries for safe disposal, the NWRF says.

“For over 50 years, Woodsy Owl has helped generations of Americans care for the places we love—and now, he’s teaming up with families to keep homes safe from battery fires,” NWRF President and CEO Michael E. Hoffman says. “As CES begins, we’re delighted to share Woodsy’s refreshed message nationwide and make it easy for parents and kids to take simple steps that keep devices powered—and households protected—across the United States.”

Following CES, the NWRF will begin a nationwide rollout of the campaign. Throughout 2026, the campaign will include community events, educational resources and collaborations with local governments, firefighters and environmental organizations.

“Woodsy Owl has always helped connect people with simple actions that benefit their communities,” says John Crockett, Forest Service deputy chief for state, private and tribal forestry. “Launching this [public service announcement] nationally and introducing it at CES lets us meet people where they are and empower them to keep their homes and neighborhoods safe.”