Packaging Producer Responsibility: New Rules from January 2023
Tuesday 1st November 2022
From 1 January 2023, subject to legislation coming into force as planned, UK organisations that handle and supply packaging to businesses and consumers need to collect and report packaging data.
We’re still awaiting legislation to establish these changes but the Government is keen to act due to the full Extended Producer Responsibility regime coming into force in 2024.
Who does this apply to?
Businesses which:
- carry out packaging activities;
- have an annual turnover of over £1m; and
- handle over 25 tonnes of packaging each year.
What are packaging activities?
- supplying branded packaged goods in the UK:
- packaging goods for another UK business;
- using transport packaging e.g. cling film on pallets to secure goods.
- import packaged goods;
- selling packaged goods online for non-UK organisations;
- selling/hiring out reusable packaging.
What do you need to do?
- collect and submit data on packaging to Defra;
- pay a waste management fee;
- buy packaging waste recycling notes or packaging waste export recycling notes;
- submit ‘nation data’ for any sold, hired, loaned, gifted or discarded packaging.
Reporting rules vary depending on turnover.
What data needs to be reported?
The weights of:
- materials in the packaging;
- materials used for primary, secondary or transit purposes;
- household or non-household waste; and
- packaging likely to end up in street bins for example takeaway food and drink confectionery and crisps.
Need some help?
Gordons experts can tell you what you’ll need to do.