Packaging Services

Who is Affected?

• Your business has a packaging obligation if ALL of the following points apply to you:
• Your annual UK turnover exceeds £2 million, AND     You perform a relevant activity on any of the packaging you handle, AND
• You own the packaging or packaging materials that you handle, AND     You handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging and/or packaging materials

Your business could be affected by other producer responsibility legislation. Find out more here.

Other things you should be aware of:

• Your organisation can be obligated if it is part of a group that collectively exceeds the thresholds outlined above, even if it doesn’t meet the thresholds on its own
• Northern Ireland has its own Packaging Waste Regulations which means that organisations with operations in Northern Ireland will need to register these separately with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency

What Do You Need to Do?

Obligated organisations must:

• Register with the appropriate environment agency. This can be done either directly with the environment agency or you can join Valpak
• Complete an annual data submission detailing the amount of packaging they have handled
• Calculate their obligation i.e. how much packaging waste they must pay towards getting recycled, use our Packaging Obligation Calculator
• Meet their obligation by procuring recycling evidence notes known as PRNs (packaging waste recovery notes)
• Provide recycling information to consumers if they supply packaging to end users (Consumer Information Obligations)

How Can We Help?

We take on the legal responsibility for your compliance with the Packaging Waste Regulations. We calculate your obligation and purchase recycling evidence (PRNs) on your behalf. We will also register you with the appropriate environment agency.

As part of your membership you also get:

• Access to fully trained experts who can be contacted for help and advice
• Unique online data submission system offering interactive guidance
• Free regional training workshops
• Free compliance reviews
• Industry news e-bulletins
• Access to a dedicated Member Area of the website
• We meet your Consumer Information Obligations (CIOs) on your behalf
• Free use of the Green Dot symbol
• A certificate of compliance
• Lobbying at Government level

How Much Does it Cost?

There are three sets of fees that you will need to pay in order to become compliant with the regulations:

1. Agency fees – everyone has to pay a set environment agency registration fee each year
2. Annual Membership fee – this covers our administration costs of checking and verifying your data
3. PRN fees – this is the cost of procuring recycling evidence notes needed to meet your obligation