- Enforced by
- Environment Agency, NIEA, NRW, SEPA
- Status
- In Force
- Penalty ceiling
- Prosecution 5 of 94 obligations carry a criminal penalty. 2 carry different penalties and 87 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Does it bind you?
Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.
Plus 27 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.
Manufacturer — also bound by 502 other Acts
Data Processor — also bound by 20 other Acts
Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Director or Officer — also bound by 429 other Acts
Trader — also bound by 825 other Acts
Licence Holder — also bound by 225 other Acts
Operator — also bound by 746 other Acts
What it requires
Regulations creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.
- Elect which UK regulator applies if you have no UK officeAny Person
- Carry out and maintain recyclability assessments for packaging you supplyManufacturer
- Merged company must register and take on packaging waste obligationsManufacturer
- Apply for producer registration by the relevant deadlineManufacturer
- Comply with packaging registration conditions and notify regulators of changesManufacturer
- Keep packaging data and recycling evidence for at least 7 yearsManufacturer
- Report packaging data annually to the environment agencyManufacturer
- Report recyclability assessment results for household packaging every 6 monthsManufacturer
- Report data on plastic or paper bags supplied in EnglandManufacturer
- Large producers must meet recycling obligations by acquiring PRNs or PERNsManufacturer
- Submit annual certificate of compliance for packaging recycling obligationsManufacturer
- Provide accurate information to your compliance schemeManufacturer
- Handle all packaging waste obligations yourself if you leave your compliance scheme mid-yearManufacturer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must consult and explain directions given to the scheme administratorStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must calculate household packaging disposal fees for each producerStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must calculate your share of public information costsStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must modulate disposal fees based on packaging sustainabilityStatutory regulator
- Scheme administrator must calculate annual admin fees for each liable producerDirector or Officer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must assess local authority packaging disposal costs annuallyStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must assess waste income and net disposal costs annuallyStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must assess local authority waste management effectivenessStatutory regulator
- Scheme administrator must send annual assessment notices to authoritiesDirector or Officer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must distribute disposal fees to local authorities quarterlyStatutory regulator
- Respond to regulator cost proposals and pay reasonable information costsDirector or Officer
- Register as a packaging waste reprocessor with the environment agencyData Processor
- Register as an exporter of packaging waste for recyclingTrader
- Comply with all conditions of registration and pay annual chargeData Processor
- Do not issue PRNs or PERNs unless accredited and conditions metData Processor
- Apply for accreditation to issue packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs)Data Processor
- Apply for accreditation to issue PERNs as a packaging waste exporterTrader
- Accredited reprocessors/exporters: comply with conditions and notify agency of changesData Processor
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must publish annual packaging monitoring plans and reportsStatutory regulator
- Fail to register, report, or comply as a packaging producerAny Person
- Fail to meet scheme operator obligations under packaging waste regulationsAny Person
- Operate without being registered or violate accreditation conditions for packaging wasteData Processor
Unlimited fine
- Provide false information, fail to comply with notices, or obstruct regulatorsAny Person
- Commit an offence under the Packaging Waste RegulationsAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Be personally liable for packaging waste offences committed by your companyDirector or Officer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcement agencies must include required details in cost recovery noticesStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcement agencies must publish civil sanctions on a public registerStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment agencies must maintain online public register of packaging producers and schemesStatutory regulator
- Apply for delegation of approved person functions in the agency's specified formLicence Holder
102 other provisions — procedural and definitional
Schedules
52 of 207 shown- Report the tonnage of packaging supplied in the relevant calendar yearManufacturer
- Declare disposal fee liability status in your registration applicationManufacturer
- Provide details of branding marks on packaging and unbranded packagingManufacturer
- Provide names of all partners if your business is a partnershipManufacturer
- Declare which packaging functions your business performsManufacturer
- Identify your main packaging function if you perform more than one roleManufacturer
- Identify your business SIC code for packaging reportingManufacturer
- Report packaging weights in kilograms and keep evidence for any exclusionsManufacturer
- Report weights of packaging waste collected and recycled from consumersManufacturer
- Scheme operator must show compliance with regulations 55 and 56Operator
- Scheme administrator must establish a complaints procedure for producers and authoritiesDirector or Officer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must publish a strategy within 6 months of appointmentStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must publish annual operational plan by 28 FebruaryStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must publish annual report on packaging EPRCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must publish auditable accounts by 30th SeptemberStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must revoke PRO appointment and follow due process on revocationStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must act fairly, transparently and efficiently in running the packaging waste schemeStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must maintain communication and consultation arrangementsStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must inform public and businesses about packaging wasteStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must publish and update guidance for local authorities and businessesStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must develop and publish recyclability assessment methodology and guidanceStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must publish and consult on disposal fee modulation policyStatutory regulator
- Scheme administrator must compile, update and publish packaging waste listsDirector or Officer
- Report packaging waste recycling data to your environment agencyData Processor
- Report packaging waste exports to the environmental regulatorAny Person
- Comply with accreditation conditions and submit monthly/annual PRN and PERN reportsData Processor
- Issue PRNs only within accreditation limits and recycle received wasteData Processor
- Keep records for each Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) you issueData Processor
- Reprocessors must submit monthly and annual packaging waste reportsData Processor
- Meet conditions before issuing PERNs for exported packaging wasteTrader
- Keep detailed records for each PERN you issueAny Person
- Submit monthly and annual PERN reports to the environment agencyTrader
- Implement your business plan, sampling plan and accreditation proceduresData Processor
- Issuing PRNs and PERNs — rules for reprocessors and exportersData Processor
- Keep and retain records of packaging waste reprocessing or exportData Processor
- Meet packaging waste obligations when joining a corporate group mid-yearManufacturer
- Register individually within 28 days if your company leaves a packaging waste group registrationManufacturer
- Cover packaging waste obligations when a group member leaves mid-yearTrader
- Comply with packaging waste obligations for the full year when leaving a corporate groupAny Person
- Register as a packaging producer each year (individually or via group)Manufacturer
- Holding company must manage group's packaging obligations and keep recordsTrader
- Collect and retain packaging waste data from tenants for 7 yearsManufacturer
- Comply with packaging waste obligations as a licensorAny Person
- Collect and keep packaging waste data for at least 7 yearsAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Appeal body must give written decision and reasons to appellantsTribunal / Court
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must include key information in compliance noticesStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcement agency must issue compliance certificate within 14 daysStatutory regulator
- Accredited reprocessors/exporters: meet 2007 obligations until February 2026Data Processor
- Report 2024 packaging data under transitional rulesManufacturer
- Submit adjusted packaging waste reports if regulations start after January 2025Manufacturer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Scheme administrator must calculate producer disposal fees using reported data and scaled-up amountsStatutory regulator
- Commit certain offences under packaging waste regulationsAny Person
155 other schedules
Help complying
Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.
Packaging producer compliance journey
Understand the overlapping environmental obligations for businesses that handle packaging. Covers Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), and Simpler Recycling …
Export to the EU after Brexit
Navigate post-Brexit changes for EU exports - customs declarations, rules of origin, VAT, and product labelling
Meet environmental compliance requirements
Navigate your environmental obligations including waste duty of care, pollution prevention, packaging responsibilities, and energy reporting
Manage your export compliance
Ongoing compliance for established exporters - export controls, sanctions, bribery prevention, and regulatory requirements
Environmental compliance for manufacturers
A comprehensive introduction to environmental compliance for manufacturing businesses. Covers permits, air emissions, water discharge, waste management, and packaging obligations.
Start a retail business - compliance essentials
A comprehensive compliance onboarding journey for new retailers. Covers consumer rights, pricing law, age-restricted sales, product safety, data protection, accessibility duties, and …
Packaging waste producer responsibilities
Who must comply with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, how to register and report data, and what disposal fees and recycling …
8 more guides that reference this instrument
Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.