EPR Packaging in Great Britain

From the beginning of 2023, organisations in the UK will be required to collect and report data on their packaging under the newly implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for packaging. These changes, a core part of the Packaging Act in England, affect all organisations that import or circulate packaging and have a significant impact on compliance requirements.

Key points

1. Scope of the scheme: the EPR scheme in the UK, including specific requirements in England, applies to all organisations that import or supply packaging. This includes companies with an annual turnover of more than £1 million and who were responsible for more than 25 tonnes of packaging in 2022.
2. Postponement of EPR charges: The introduction of EPR charges for packaging in the UK has been postponed by one year. The postponement of EPR packaging charges by one year, from October 2024 to October 2025, only affects companies that fall under these new, extended criteria. No EPR fees need to be paid for 2024, but the companies concerned must report their packaging data for 2023 and continue to pay fees under previous regulations.
3. Reporting requirements and deadlines: Large organisations must report every six months, while small organisations must collect but not report their data for 2023. The specific deadlines vary depending on the part of the UK, including specific regulations in England.
4. Compliance scheme support: Organisations can use compliance schemes to meet their EPR requirements for packaging in the UK. These can help with paying registration fees, obtaining PRNs or PERNs for recycling obligations and reporting packaging data.

What does this mean for your business?

• Registration and data collection: Affected businesses must register under the EPR Packaging Act in England and provide detailed information about their packaging, including type, material and weight.  

• Meeting deadlines: Make sure you meet the specific reporting deadlines to avoid penalties. 
• Planning for the future: Prepare for the introduction of EPR charges in 2025 and factor this into your long-term planning.

For more information and detailed guidance, please visit the official Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website at GOV.UK.

Tackling EPR in UK with professional support

We at Deutsche Recycling GmbH are your experts for EPR in Great Britain and environmental compliance. We are happy to carry out compliance checks on request and support you in meeting the regulations of the EU member states. We provide you with professional, personalised and individual support for EPR in UK.