The UK government is introducing new extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging regulations for UK organisations who supply or import packaging into the UK. The requirements under these regulations are being phased in from 2024 onwards.
To support members with the implementation of the new requirements, and to keep members up to date with the latest announcements, we will publishing a monthly member update. This will provide updates on:
- Regulations and governance
- Data reporting
- Guidance and engagement
- Recyclability labelling
- Disposal fees
With the support of our environmental partners Beyondly, we will keep the BTHA packaging EPR member guidance up to date in line with any changes. Members can view and download the BTHA guidance.
Regulations and Governance
The Main pEPR Regulations:
The Main pEPR Regulations were notified to the EU & the WTO organisation on 1st of May 2024, meaning that the regulations are in the public domain to review. You can access here: The Draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.
WTO notification period is 60 days, which concluded on 30th June 2024. EU notification period is 90 days, which concluded on 30th July 2024. We are expecting to hear more about the timelines and process of passing these regulations through the UK parliament when stakeholder engagement kicks off again in August 2024 following the general election.
Data Reporting
Reminder to submit 2023 placed on market packaging data as soon as possible, as the deadline of 31st May 2024 has passed.
2024 data:
For half 1 (H1) 2024 data submission (packaging placed on market January – June 2024):
- January – June 2024: collect H1 2024 packaging placed on market data
- 1 October 2024: Deadline to submit H1 2024 data to government
For half 2 (H2) 2024 data submission (packaging placed on market July – December 2024):
- July – December 2024: collect H2 2024 packaging placed on market data
- 1 April 2025: Deadline to submit member’s H2 2024 data to government
For 2024 nation data:
- Throughout 2024: collect nation data.
- 1 December 2025: deadline to submit 2024 nation data to government.
Please note that if you use a compliance scheme, it may have internal deadlines for data submissions ahead of the government deadlines, to ensure the compliance scheme can check and verify your data. Please confirm when these deadlines are with your compliance scheme.
Guidance and Engagement
Defra are due to kick off stakeholder engagement again following the general election. The first one is on Tuesday 13 August, 14.00-15.00. You can sign up to the session here. Each person registering can submit one question to Defra to cover during the session.
The Resource & Waste newsletter will begin to be published again shortly. You can subscribe to Defra’s Resource & Waste newsletter to receive updates.
Recyclability Labelling
No update.
Disposal fees
We are expecting an update on the status of the ‘illustrative’ disposal fee publication when stakeholder engagement kicks off again in August 2024.
If members have any questions on the new requirements, please get in contact with kerri@btha.co.uk
