As the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations come into full effect from January 2025, businesses are facing new obligations around packaging waste disposal and recyclability assessments. This article brings together insights from two detailed video updates by Charlotte Davis, Senior Consultant at Beyondly, covering key aspects of the new EPR framework.
Video 1: Understanding Packaging EPR Disposal Fees
In the first video, Charlotte provides a comprehensive breakdown of the Packaging EPR Disposal Fees, which are now a crucial part of the regulatory landscape for businesses placing packaging on the market. The disposal fees are set to replace the cost previously borne by local taxpayers, aligning with the polluter pays principle. This means that producers are now financially responsible for packaging waste throughout its entire lifecycle, with specific costs related to the collection, sorting, and processing of household packaging and packaging commonly found in public bins.
The video explains the evolving compliance obligations for large producers—companies with an annual turnover of £2 million or more and those supplying 50 tons or more of packaging annually. These businesses must submit data on packaging placed on the market, assess recyclability, and manage their disposal fees accordingly. For small producers—with an annual turnover of £1 million or more but less than 50 tons of packaging supplied—the main obligation is data reporting, with no financial obligations attached in the first year.
Key aspects covered include:
- Disposal Fees: How they are calculated and their financial impact on businesses.
- Single Point of Compliance: Moving away from shared compliance along the supply chain to a single entity responsible for packaging waste.
- Timeline for Fees: How fees will evolve, starting with a base fee for packaging placed on the market in 2024, and moving towards modulated fees based on recyclability assessments for future years.
This video will help you navigate the financial obligations of packaging EPR and understand the broader impact on your business.
Video 2: Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM)
The second video dives into the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), a critical component of the Packaging EPR regulations. Large producers must now assess the recyclability of their packaging, and the results of these assessments will directly influence the modulation of disposal fees from 2026 onwards. This assessment must be done for packaging placed on the market in 2025 and submitted as part of the producer's data reporting to their compliance scheme or the regulator.
Charlotte discusses the key updates in the RAM methodology and how it will shape the way producers design packaging for better recyclability. The purpose of the RAM is to incentivize producers to adopt packaging that is easier to recycle, which will ultimately reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste.
Key points covered in this video include:
- The Obligation for Large Producers: How large producers must assess the recyclability of packaging placed on the market starting in 2025.
- Impact on Disposal Fees: How the recyclability assessment results will influence the disposal fees in 2026 and beyond.
- Packaging Recommendations: Advice on how businesses can design packaging to meet the recyclability criteria and reduce their costs under the EPR regulations.
Together, these two videos provide a full picture of what businesses need to do to comply with the Packaging EPR regulations. From understanding how disposal fees are calculated to the critical importance of recyclability assessments, this is essential information for any producer or business in the packaging supply chain.
Key Takeaways:
- The Packaging EPR regulations are now in force, with new financial obligations for producers related to disposal fees and recyclability assessments.
- Large producers must assess the recyclability of their packaging starting in 2025 and report this data for the 2025–2026 period.
- The disposal fees will evolve, starting with base fees for packaging placed on the market in 2024 and transitioning to modulated fees based on recyclability from 2026.
- Businesses must start preparing now to ensure they comply with these new requirements, including submitting data and making packaging design changes to meet recyclability standards.
For more in-depth information on the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), check out the second video. If you have any questions or need further guidance, don't hesitate to reach out to Charlotte Davis at Beyondly.