UK Guidance on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging: Who’s Affected and What to Do

"Under the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations for packaging, UK-based organisations that import or supply packaging may be required to report data, pay recycling-related fees, and meet new compliance requirements starting from 2024 data onwards. **Who Must Take Action You are affected if: You're a business, group, or subsidiary (not a charity) Your annual turnover is £1 million or more You import or supply over 25 tonnes of packaging in the UK You engage in any packaging activities such as: Supplying under your own brand Importing packaged goods Owning an online marketplace Hiring/loaning reusable packaging Supplying empty packaging **Small vs Large Organisations Small producers: Turnover between £1M–£2M AND supply/import over 25 tonnes Annual reporting of packaging data Large producers: Turnover over £2M AND supply/import over 50 tonnes Biannual reporting, plus additional obligations like: Paying waste management and administrative fees Registering with regulators Acquiring PRNs or PERNs to meet recycling targets **Reporting Deadlines 2024 data (all sizes): Submission due by 1 April 2025 2025 data: Small producers: Deadline 1 April 2026 Large producers: Jan–June data: Submit by 1 October 2025 Nation data: Due 1 December 2026 **What to Report Organisations must report: Packaging activity and type (household/non-household) Class (primary, secondary, shipment, tertiary) Material type and weight Nation data: Where packaging was supplied and discarded (if applicable) **Fees & Recycling Obligations Obligations begin 2025, based on 2024 data Includes waste management fees, registration charges, and modulated fees based on recyclability Using easily recyclable packaging can reduce costs **Compliance Schemes Third-party schemes can assist with data submission and meeting recycling obligations, but cannot register your organisation or make payments for you"