EPR Guide - Flipbook - Page 14
Current EPR Packaging Rules in
Force (2024-2026)
The UK’s EPR for packaging is being phased in between 2023 and 2026. Initially,
the emphasis has been on data collection and reporting, with fee payments
starting in 2025. Here we outline the core requirements that are already in effect
(as of 2024–2026), which any obligated packaging producer must follow.
Registration and Reporting Requirements
All large and small obligated producers must register (either directly with the environmental
regulator or via an approved compliance scheme) and submit packaging data reports on a regular
schedule:
Large producers (≥£2m turnover & >50 t packaging):
• Register with the relevant regulator (Environment Agency in England, NRW in Wales, etc.) by the
required date (in the 昀椀rst year, large 昀椀rms had to register by July 2023). This can be done directly
or by joining a compliance scheme that registers on your behalf.
• Report packaging data twice per year: covering Jan–Jun and Jul–Dec periods – through
the government’s online “Report Packaging Data” service. The typical deadlines have been
1st October (for H1 data) and 1st April (for H2 data of the previous year). For example, large
producers submitted their H2 2023 data by 1st April 2024, and H1 2024 data by 1st October
2024.
• Collect detailed data on all packaging placed on the UK market: this includes the weight
(tonnes) of packaging by material type (plastic, paper/card, glass, aluminium, steel, wood,
“other”), the type of packaging (primary, secondary, tertiary/transit or shipment packaging),
and whether it’s household or non-household packaging waste. (More on household vs nonhousehold below.)
• Nation Data: Starting with 2023 data, large producers have had to prepare for reporting the
nation of sale or discard of their packaging. By 1st December 2024, large producers had to
report “nation data” for 2023, indicating what tonnages were sold or discarded in England,
Scotland, Wales, NI. (Nation data reporting becomes annual by each 1st Dec, with a major
deadline on 1st April 2027 for a full nation-level breakdown.)
14
