12 March
EPR explained.
What is EPR?
The UK’s Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme is a regulatory framework designed to make businesses responsible for the packaging waste they generate. It replaces the previous Packaging Waste Regulations, aiming to improve recycling rates while shifting the financial burden of waste management from taxpayers to producers.
Under this scheme, obligated businesses must report their packaging data and pay fees based on the amount and type of packaging they introduce into the market.
Who needs to report and what does it mean for my business?
Businesses must collect and report packaging data for a given year if they meet all the following criteria:
- You are an individual business, subsidiary, or group (excluding charities).
- Your annual turnover is £1 million or more (based on the most recent annual accounts up to 7 April 2025.
- You were responsible for importing or supplying more than 25 tonnes of packaging to the UK market in the previous calendar year.
- You carry out packaging activities such as filling or packing.
Why does decent need this info?
We're classified as a “large” organisation under the pEPR scheme. Since we sell empty packaging that is later filled by both small and large businesses, we are required to collect, report, and pay fees based on the packaging we place in the UK market. Complying with pEPR ensures that decent meets its legal obligations.
Key dates
- 2023: Businesses must begin collecting and reporting packaging data (from 1 January or 1 March, depending on data availability).
- 2024: The first full year of data collection to determine 2025 fees. The reporting deadline is 1 April 2024.
- October 2025: Businesses will start paying waste management fees based on 2024 data.
Fees
Businesses required to report packaging data must pay:
- Registration fees
- Fees based on the weight and type of packaging placed on the market
Resources:
- Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging: Who is Affected and What to Do
- Packaging Data: What to Collect for Extended Producer Responsibility
- Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging: Regulators’ Agreed Positions and Technical Interpretations
- UK Govertnment EPR advice
As always, we're here to help so please email us if you have any questions.