Extended producer responsibility for packaging
Guidance for packaging producers (suppliers, importers, manufacturers, distributors and service providers) and reprocessors and exporters of waste packaging.
Who must comply with EPR for packaging
You may have obligations under EPR for packaging (this is called being an ‘obligated producer’) if you supply or import packaging or packaged goods.
Read the following guide to find out:
- if you’re an obligated producer
- if you count as a ‘large producer’ or a ‘small producer’
What large producers must do
As a large producer you, or a compliance scheme acting on your behalf, must:
- register with your environmental regulator each year
- report packaging data every 6 months
- buy or otherwise acquire enough packaging waste recycling notes (PRNs) or packaging waste export recycling notes (PERNs) or both to meet your recycling obligations each year
- submit a certificate of compliance to show that you’ve met your recycling obligations each year
- pay a waste disposal fee for any household packaging to PackUK each year
- keep required data for 7 years
What small producers must do
As a small producer you, or a compliance scheme acting on your behalf, must:
- register for EPR for packaging
- renew your registration by 1 April each year
- report your packaging data by 1 April each year
'Report packaging data' service
Use this service to register for EPR for packaging, and report packaging data.
Templates and example files for registering and reporting data
To register, you need to create and upload a registration file. To report packaging data, you need to create and upload a reporting file.
Compliance schemes
Compliance schemes are third parties that help organisations to comply with EPR for packaging. If you’re an obligated producer, you have the choice of using a compliance scheme, a compliance consultant, or handling your own compliance.
Check the public registers
The public register of producers lists the producers that have registered for EPR for packaging. It shows if they’re a large or small producer.
The public register of reprocessors and exporters lists the accredited reprocessors and exporters that issue PRNs or PERNs.
Regulation and enforcement
The EPR for packaging requirements are set out in The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 (as amended).
The environmental regulators:
- regulate compliance by producers, compliance schemes, reprocessors and exporters, and take enforcement action where necessary
- provide technical guidance and advice
The regulators have published monitoring plans to show how they enforce the regulations. They also issue regulatory position statements (RPSs) to clarify their requirements in relation to the regulations.
Reprocessors and exporters of packaging waste
Reprocessors and exporters responsible for dealing with packaging waste must register with their environmental regulators. Apply for accreditation if you want to sell PRNs or PERNs to obligated producers.
Contact details
Contact your environmental regulator
Environment Agency (England)
Email: packagingproducers@environment-agency.gov.uk
Northern Ireland Environment Agency (Northern Ireland)
Email:
packaging@daera-ni.gov.uk for producers
repandexp@daera-ni.gov.uk for reprocessors and exporters
Natural Resources Wales (Wales)
Email: packaging@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Scotland)
Email: producer.responsibility@sepa.org.uk
EPR for packaging policy and adminstration
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
For questions or comments on EPR for packaging policy and using the online services, contact EPRCustomerService@defra.gov.uk.
Telephone: 0300 060 0002 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm)
PackUK
PackUK is the administrator for EPR for packaging. It sets fee rates and collects waste disposal fees from obligated producers.
For questions about waste disposal fees, notices of liability or RAM, contact EPRCustomerService@defra.gov.uk
Updates to this page
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Page has been updated for better clarity and usability.
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RAM guidance for the 2027 reporting year (1 January to 31 December 2027) added to collection page. Producers should use the 'materials and outputs' document if they are assessing and reporting recyclability data for 2026.
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Removed reference to the older Producer Responsibility Regulations which have now been revised
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Added a new detailed guide called 'Recording and reporting packaging waste: reprocessors and exporters'.
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New guidance has been added on notices of liability from PackUK. This covers what a notice of liability is and what's included within it.
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Added summary log guidance to the reprocessors and exporters section.
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Link added to new guidance collection page for for local authorities who will receive payments under EPR for packaging.
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First published.