United Kingdom EPR
Provinces
Packaging
Provinces
Packaging
EEE
About
Packaging
About
Packaging
About
EEE
About
EEE
Packaging
EEE
Packaging
EEE
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging in United Kingdom
On 1 January 2025, the UK government replaced the Packaging Waste Regulations (2007) with the new Packaging Regulations 2024, introducing a full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging. Under these rules, producers must take financial responsibility for the collection, recycling, and disposal of household packaging waste. From October 2025, producers will begin receiving invoices for their EPR fees, calculated on packaging data from 2024. The fees will cover the full net cost of efficient disposal and recycling.Who must register for packaging EPR in United Kingdom
The rules apply to packaging-importing or supplying entities within the UK if:- Producer/seller annual turnover is £1 million or greater
- Producer/seller handled more than 25 tonnes of packaging in the previous calendar year
- Producer/seller engage in any packaging-related actions, including importing or supplying goods with packaging
Producer categories
- Large producers: turnover ≥ £2 million and handling ≥ 50 tonnes packaging per year. They must report data biannually and pay fees
- Small producers: turnover between £1–2 million and packaging between 25–50 tonnes. They must report annually, but have lighter cost obligations
- Below threshold: businesses under £1m turnover or under 25 tonnes packaging generally have no obligations
What the package includes
The EPR packaging regulations encompass various packaging activities, including:- Supplying packaged goods to the UK market under your own brand
- Placing goods into packaging
- Importing products in packaging
- Selling empty packaging
- Hiring or loaning reusable packaging
- Running an online marketplace
Packaging
Packaging is the materials or wrappings used to protect, store, transport and present goods. Packaging can be made from paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, fibre-based composites, or wood. The following are covered under UK EPR:- Plastic
- Paper/Board
- Aluminium
- Glass
- Steel
- Wood
- Fibre-based composites
- Other
Threshold
- Large producers: ≥ £2m turnover and ≥ 50 tonnes packaging — full obligations, including paying disposal fees
- Small producers: £1m–£2m turnover and 25–50 tonnes packaging — annual reporting and lighter fee obligations
- Exempt: below these thresholds — generally exempt, though may have minimal data reporting
EPR registration procedure in the United Kingdom
Organizations obligated under EPR for packaging must:- Create an account on the Report Packaging Data service
- Submit organization details
- Register with Environmental Regulators
- Pay the applicable registration fee
Authorized representative
If the seller is based outside the UK, they must appoint an authorized representative within the UK to fulfil EPR obligations. This representative is responsible for registering, reporting, and compliance on behalf of a foreign seller.Reporting deadline
Reporting requirements depend on producer size:- Large Producers: must collect and submit packaging data bi-annually. For example, data from 1 January–30 June 2025 must be submitted by 1 October 2025
- Small Producers: must submit data annually. For example, data for 2025 must be submitted by 1 April 2026 In addition, producers must carry out Recyclability Assessments (RAM) for household packaging from 1 January 2025. The first RAM report deadline is 1 October 2025.
Who assumes responsibility?
Responsibility under the EPR scheme lies with:- Producers: organizations that supply packaging to the UK market
- Authorized Representatives: appointed by non-UK producers to fulfil obligations
Duties of each group
- Large Producers: register, report biannually, pay registration and waste management fees, complete RAM assessments, and finance recycling obligations
- Small Producers: register, report annually, pay registration fees
- Authorized Representatives: ensure their represented organizations comply with all obligations
Fees, costs, and invoicing
- Base fees for 2025/26 were confirmed by the UK government in June 2025, applying from October 2025
- The first invoices will be issued October 2025, based on 2024 packaging data
- Invoices cover net costs of efficient collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of household packaging waste
- Fee modulation will be introduced in 2026/27, with higher or lower fees depending on recyclability ratings (green/amber/red) from the RAM
Timeline / Key dates
- 1 January 2025 — RAM begins for household packaging; producers start data collection
- 1 October 2025 — First invoices issued for 2024 data; first RAM report deadline (Jan–Jun 2025 data)
- 2026/27 — Modulated fees introduced, based on recyclability assessments
Penalties / Non-Compliance
Failure to register, report data, or conduct recyclability assessments on time may result in penalties under the Packaging Regulations 2024. Regulators will enforce compliance, with financial and legal consequences for non-compliant producers. Typical ranges are:- Minor breaches (late data reporting, small underreporting): up to £5,000
- Moderate breaches (significant underreporting, repeated failures): fines between £10,000–£50,000
- Severe breaches (systematic evasion, large-scale non-compliance): fines over £100,000, with no statutory upper limit
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for EEE in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to ensure that producers bear the full cost of managing EEE waste. This initiative aims to enhance recycling rates and reduce environmental impact by shifting the financial responsibility from local authorities to producers.Who must register for EEE EPR in the United Kingdom
Under the UK's EPR regulations for EEE, obligations apply to organizations that:- Manufacture or import EEE into the UK
- Rebrand EEE produced by others and sell it under their own brand
- Sell EEE directly to UK consumers via distance selling
What the package includes
As for now, there are 5 categories prescribed in the UK:- Large Household Appliances
- Small Household Appliances
- IT and Telecoms Equipment WEEE
- Consumer Equipment
- Lighting Equipment
Thresholds
No threshold is applied; every company that brings products to the market must register.EPR registration procedure in the United Kingdom
To comply with EEE regulations in the UK, follow these steps:- Register as an EEE manufacturer after placing EEE on the UK market
- Complete registration on the National Packaging Waste Database (for smaller producers)
- Participate in a compliance scheme to address the expenses associated with WEEE collection and recycling
- Pay the applicable license fee
- Obtain the company’s EPR number
- Report the quantity of EEE released onto the market
Authorized representative
To register for the EPR rules for electronic and electrical appliances in the UK, foreign companies must either appoint an authorized representative in the UK or join an approved producer responsibility scheme.Reporting deadline
Reporting requirements vary based on organization size:- Small Producers: Must report EEE data annually by 31 January for the previous calendar year
- Large Producers: Must provide data to their PCS, which reports quarterly for household EEE and annually for non-household EEE
Sanctions in case of violation
The standard criminal and offense-specific responses for violating the Legislative Decree are warning, formal caution, and prosecution.Who assumes responsibility?
Responsibility under the EPR scheme lies with:- Producers: Organizations that place EEE on the UK market
- Authorized Representatives: Appointed by non-UK based producers to fulfill obligations
- These entities are accountable for registering, reporting, and meeting recycling obligations
Duties of each group
- Large Producers: Must join a PCS, report EEE data, and finance the collection, treatment, and recycling of WEEE
- Small Producers: Required to register, report EEE data annually, and may need to finance the recycling of WEEE
- Authorized Representatives: Responsible for ensuring their represented organizations comply with all EPR requirements
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