What Are the UK’s Packaging Waste Regulations?
UK businesses must follow strict packaging waste regulations that control how packaging is designed, used, recycled, and disposed of. If your company produces, handles, or sells packaged goods, as of 1 January 2025, you’re legally responsible for managing that waste in line with the UK’s packaging rules and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
This guide explains what the regulations are, who they apply to, and how to stay compliant.
Key takeaways
- UK businesses must follow packaging waste regulations if they make, use, supply, or import packaging.
- EPR is now in force and changes how packaging waste is reported and paid for.
- Non-compliance leads to fines and increased waste costs.
- Reducing packaging and improving recycling systems keeps fees and disposal costs under control.
EPR compliance checklist
(at a glance)
Use this quick checklist to see if your business is currently meeting EPR duties:
- Confirm if you are in scope based on packaging handled and business activities.
- Register with the correct regulator and maintain up-to-date account details.
- Collect and submit accurate packaging data in the required format and on time.
- Label and separate packaging materials correctly to support recycling.
- Use recyclable or reusable packaging where possible to limit EPR fees.
- Work only with licensed waste carriers and compliant recyclers.
Keep records and evidence of data, suppliers, and waste collections for audits.
Understanding UK packaging
and waste regulations
The UK has strict laws to reduce packaging waste and improve recycling. These regulations apply to any organisation involved in the production, use, supply, or import of packaging. The goal is to make businesses responsible for the full life cycle of packaging, from design through to disposal.
Packaging covers a wide range of materials, including cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, metal, wood, and biodegradable alternatives. Common business examples include delivery boxes, food and drink containers, mailing bags, protective wrapping, product cartons, and retail-ready packaging.
The regulations focus on:
- Cutting unnecessary packaging
- Increasing recycling and reuse
- Reducing the environmental impact of packaging
- Encouraging better packaging design
They impact many sectors, including manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, hospitality, catering, health and beauty, and wholesale.
Businesses that rely on cardboard or paper packaging often reduce costs by improving recycling systems. Many use cardboard recycling, plastic recycling, or arrange regular paper recycling collections to keep waste charges down. Mixed materials can be handled through mixed recycling collections.
Key packaging
waste regulations
The Producer Responsibility Obligations for Packaging Waste Regulations 2007 set out the original framework for how UK businesses must record, recover, and recycle packaging waste. While EPR is now active, elements of this older system remain part of the transition.
A business must follow packaging waste regulations if it:
- Handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging in a calendar year, and
- Has a turnover of more than £2 million
If in scope, your business must:
- Register with the appropriate environment regulator
- Collect and submit accurate packaging data
- Fund the recovery and recycling of packaging placed on the market
This applies across the supply chain, including raw material suppliers, manufacturers, packers and fillers, sellers, and importers. The obligation is shared, so the cost and responsibility do not fall on one stage alone.
Even if you don’t meet the thresholds, you must still follow good practice. This includes reducing packaging, increasing recyclability, and ensuring commercial recycling collections are in place to avoid contamination.
Your legal duties
for waste packaging
Waste packaging regulations require businesses to record how much packaging they use and ensure it is properly recycled. Companies must maintain accurate data, label materials clearly, and use licensed waste carriers. This reduces contamination and ensures recyclable packaging does not end up in landfill.
Packaging Waste
Directive
The EU Packaging Waste Directive shaped most of the UK’s current rules. It set packaging reuse and recycling targets and introduced shared responsibility for packaging waste. Although the UK no longer follows EU law, the principles remain. EPR now replaces the old system with a modern, more accountable approach.
EPR explained
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) took effect on 1 January 2025. It replaces much of the old Packaging Waste Regulations system. Under EPR, businesses that place packaging on the UK market are now financially responsible for the environmental impact of that packaging throughout its life cycle.
EPR requires in-scope businesses to:
- Submit more detailed packaging data reporting
- Pay fees based on the type and recyclability of packaging
- Improve packaging design to use recycled, reusable, or recyclable materials
This system places greater responsibility on producers rather than taxpayers or local authorities.
Who EPR applies to
EPR applies to businesses that:
- Supply packaged goods to the UK market
- Import packaged products
- Pack or fill products
- Sell goods in packaging
It also applies to some businesses that were not previously required to register under the old regime, so many more organisations now have legal duties.
Phased rollout
While EPR is active, some elements are being introduced in stages. This includes:
- Data reporting for in-scope businesses (active)
- Fees and cost contributions linked to recycling and waste management (phased)
- Modulated fees, which charge more for harder-to-recycle packaging (planned to follow)
EPR makes non-recyclable or mixed-material packaging more expensive to use. Switching to recyclable packaging and setting up effective recycling for plastic packaging waste, glass recycling, and metal recycling keeps environmental impact and costs down.
How EPR changes the UK’s
packaging waste rules
| Before EPR (up to 2024) | After EPR (from 1 January 2025) |
| 2007 Packaging Waste Regulations were the main system | EPR is now the main system for packaging responsibility |
| Only larger businesses (£2m turnover + 50t packaging) had to report | More businesses are in scope, including smaller producers |
| Businesses bought PRNs to fund recycling | Businesses pay EPR fees based on recyclability and material type |
| Limited data reporting requirements | Detailed, item-level data reporting required |
| Costs largely fell on local authorities and taxpayers | Producers now fund recycling, disposal, and environmental costs |
| Less incentive to design packaging for recycling | Modulated fees reward recyclable, reusable, circular packaging |
How to comply with
packaging waste rules
If your business supplies or uses packaging, use the following steps to stay compliant:
- Check if you qualify
Calculate the amount of packaging handled each year to confirm your reporting obligations. - Register with the right regulator
This may be the Environment Agency, SEPA, NRW, or DAERA. Our team are happy to advise you on this. - Submit accurate packaging data
Detailed data reporting is required under EPR. Records must be clear, consistent, and kept up to date. - Improve recycling systems
Use dedicated recycling streams for cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass. Many businesses arrange packaging waste collections to maintain compliance. - Reduce packaging
Remove unnecessary packaging, choose lighter materials, or switch to reusable or recyclable alternatives.
Work with responsible suppliers
Ask suppliers for packaging specifications and recyclability evidence so data reporting is accurate.
Costs and penalties
for non-compliance
Failure to meet packaging waste regulations can result in:
- Financial penalties
- Enforcement action
- Backdated payments
- Reputational damage
Not reporting packaging data or failing to pay required fees can lead to fines and investigations. Improving recycling and reducing packaging helps keep costs down, especially as EPR fees increase for non-recyclable materials.
Final thoughts
The UK’s packaging waste regulations are strict, and businesses must comply with EPR and data reporting now. Clear recycling systems, reduced packaging, and accurate reporting help control costs and support environmental goals.
For compliant packaging waste collections and recycling support, contact us online or call 0800 211 8390.
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