Apply for a new registration or accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter
Access the application forms for a new registration or accreditation for packaging waste you recycle or export, for each new material and, for reprocessors, each new site.
Maintain your registration and reapply for accreditation
The forms on this page are only for new registration and accreditation applications.
You must maintain your registration each year following the year in which it is granted. Find out how to maintain your registration.
Accreditations expire on 31 December each year. To issue packaging recycling notes (PRNs) or packaging export recycling notes (PERNs) in the following year you must reapply for accreditation.
If you’re accredited for 2026, find out how to reapply for accreditation.
Application process for a new registration or accreditation
Before you start, refer to the general guidance on applying for registration and accreditation.
Reprocessors must have a registration for each material at each reprocessing site they operate.
Exporters must have a registration for each material they export.
Reprocessors applying to accredit a material for the first time or at a new site need to complete a separate application form for each material at each reprocessing site they operate.
Exporters applying to accredit a material for the first time need to complete a separate application form for each material.
Make sure you have:
- completed an organisation ID form and received your organisation ID and system reference number
- identified the approved person for your organisation and understand their role
- prepared a sampling and inspection plan (SIP)
- completed your overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (ORS) if you are an exporter
You can save your progress on the forms and return to finish completing them up to 28 days later.
Submit your organisation details
You must complete and submit the organisation details form to receive your organisation ID and system reference number, which you need to apply for registration or accreditation.
Your organisation ID will be emailed automatically when you submit – you’ll be able to begin registration straight away.
Before you start
You’ll need:
- your organisation name and trading name, if applicable
- your Companies House number, if applicable
- the address of your registered office, head office or principal place of business
- the nation or nations in which you have sites
- if you’re a partnership, the names of all partners in your organisation
Submit your organisation details
Submit your organisation details
Apply for registration as a reprocessor
You must complete one form for each material at each reprocessing site you operate.
Example: You reprocess glass, aluminium and paper at one site. At another site you reprocess glass and paper. You must have a registration for all the materials at both sites. You need to submit 5 registration application forms.
When asked where you are based, you must select the nation that matches the site address.
Before you start
You’ll need:
- your organisation ID and system reference number
- details of who the regulator can contact about this application, known as the ‘registration contact’
- the site address
- an address for service of notices and other legal documents
- all packaging waste categories that the site has a permit or exemption for, even if you do not need to register them
- permit numbers and authorisations for any permits the site has
- waste exemption references, if applicable
- the maximum weight of packaging waste the site could reprocess, per year, month and week
- your waste carrier, broker or dealer registration number
- the packaging waste category you’re applying to register (one per form)
- a list of the type of suppliers you receive packaging waste from – for example, supermarkets
- a list of the key plant and equipment used for reprocessing
- your sampling and inspection plan part 1 for the packaging waste category you’re registering
- details of the approved person
You’ll also need detailed information about your inputs, outputs and products.
For your inputs, you must declare how many tonnes of each of the following you dealt with:
- UK packaging waste
- non-UK packaging waste
- non-packaging waste
- raw material inputs
For your outputs, you must declare how many tonnes of each of the following you produced:
- total of the packaging waste category sent to other sites for reprocessing
- total contaminants from reprocessing the packaging waste category
- total process loss from reprocessing
For products made, you must give:
- the product name
- the tonnage of product
Apply for registration as a reprocessor
Apply for reprocessor registration
Apply for accreditation as a reprocessor
You must complete a form for each material at each reprocessing site you operate.
Example: You reprocess glass, aluminium and paper at one site. At another site you reprocess glass and paper. You want to issue PRNs for all the materials at both sites. You need to submit 5 accreditation application forms.
When asked where you are based, select the nation that matches the site address.
Before you start
You’ll need:
- your organisation ID and system reference number
- contact details for the person completing the form
- the address and postcode of the site
- the packaging waste category you want accreditation for
- the name and email address of your ‘PRN signatory’ – the person authorised to issue PRNs under this accreditation
- details of your business plan
- your sampling and inspection plan part 2 for the packaging waste category you are applying to accredit
You will also have to choose a tonnage band. The bands are:
- up to 500 tonnes
- up to 5000 tonnes
- up to 10,000 tonnes
- more than 10,000 tonnes
Submitting the accreditation form
To submit the accreditation form, you must be the approved person for your organisation.
If the approved person cannot submit the form themselves, another person may do so. The person submitting the application must get email confirmation from the approved person, verifying that the information provided is accurate and complete.
The approved person must email this confirmation to the regulator. The regulators cannot consider your application until they have received this confirmation.
This does not constitute setting up a delegated authority. The process for applying for delegated authority via the digital service is currently being developed. Further guidance will be available soon.
Apply for accreditation as a reprocessor
If you want to apply for an accreditation that starts before 31 December 2026, you need to contact your regulator.
Apply for reprocessor accreditation
Apply for registration as an exporter
Complete one form for each material you export.
When asked where you are based, select the nation where your head office or registered office is located.
Before you start
You’ll need:
- your organisation ID and system reference number
- details of who the regulator can contact about this application
- an address for service of notices and other legal documents
- your waste carrier, broker or dealer registration number
- any applicable permit numbers or waste exemption references
- the packaging waste category you’re applying to register (one per form)
- a list of the type of suppliers you receive packaging waste from – for example, supermarkets
- names of the UK ports you use for exporting this packaging waste category
- your sampling and inspection plan part 1 for the packaging waste category you are registering
- your overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (ORS)
- details of the approved person
You do not need to submit broadly equivalent evidence (BES) at this stage, but will for accreditation.
Apply for registration as an exporter
Apply for exporter registration
Apply for accreditation as an exporter
Complete one form for each material you export.
Select the nation where your head office or registered office is located.
Before you start
You’ll need:
- your organisation ID and system reference number
- contact details for the person completing the form
- the packaging waste category you want accreditation for (one per form)
- the name and email address of your ‘PERN signatory’ – the person authorised to issue PERNs under this accreditation
- details of your business plan
- your overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (ORS)
- your sampling and inspection plan part 2 for the packaging waste category you’re applying to accredit
You will also have to choose a tonnage band. The bands are:
- up to 500 tonnes
- up to 5000 tonnes
- up to 10,000 tonnes
- more than 10,000 tonnes
Submitting the accreditation form
To submit the accreditation form, you must be the approved person for your organisation.
If the approved person cannot submit the form themselves, another person may do so. The person submitting the application must get email confirmation from the approved person, verifying that the information provided is accurate and complete.
The approved person must email this confirmation to the regulator. The regulators cannot consider your application until they have received this confirmation.
This does not constitute setting up a delegated authority. The process for applying for delegated authority via the digital service is currently being developed. Further guidance will be available soon.
Apply for accreditation as an exporter
If you want to apply for an accreditation that starts before 31 December 2026, you need to contact your regulator.
Apply for exporter accreditation
How to submit evidence of ‘broadly equivalent standards’ (BES)
Check the broadly equivalent standards for packaging for information on what evidence you will need to provide both in general and for specific countries.
England
After submitting your application you will be sent a link to your own folder on Quatrix, a secure file sharing service. Upload your BES evidence there. If you are applying for more than one material, you will be sent a link for each.
Please use naming convention: ORS full name, issuing competent authority, original or translated, expiry date.
Scotland
Submit your BES evidence by e-mail to producer.responsibility@sepa.org.uk.
If you are applying for more than one material, submit BES evidence for each material in separate emails. Indicate in the email which material the BES evidence applies to.
Northern Ireland
Submit your BES evidence by email to repandexp@daera-ni.gov.uk.
Make sure:
- attachments to each email do not exceed 30 MB
- you state the material type in title of the document
Wales
Submit BES evidence by e-mail to packaging@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk.
If you are applying for more than one material submit BES evidence for each material in separate emails. Indicate in the email which material the BES evidence applies to.
What you’ll pay and how to pay
The main guidance contains details of all charges and how to pay.
What happens next
Once you’ve completed your application and paid your application charges, the regulators have 12 weeks to determine your application. If they need any clarifications they will ask the contact you provided at registration.
If there are no questions, they will let the contact know the outcome of your application.
Contact your regulator
Environment Agency
Email: packaging@environment-agency.gov.uk
Natural Resources Wales
Email: packaging@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Email: producer.responsibility@sepa.org.uk
Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Email: repandexp@daera-ni.gov.uk
Updates to this page
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Updated email address for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
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You can now save your progress in the forms and return to them later.
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Clarified that to submit the accreditation form for 2026, you must be the approved person for your organisation. If the approved person cannot submit the form, they need to email to confirm the information is accurate, but this does not constitute a delegated authority.
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All reprocessor and exporter forms are now live. The page has been updated with links to these forms.
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First published.