Packaging waste targets for 2023

Recycling responsibility is changing for UK organisations responsible for packaging.

Three separate regulations were issued in recent weeks introducing packaging waste targets for 2023 in the UK with material specific recycling obligation on producers. All UK organisations that handle and supply packaging to consumers and to businesses are affected by the new regulations in force from 1^st January 2023.

An overall recycling target of 77% is set for recycling packaging waste that obligated producers must meet for 2023.

New material specific recycling targets for 2023 are established on obligated producers for paper/board, plastic, glass, aluminium, steel and wood as well as the specific re-melt target for glass:

Guidance has been updated on the new extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. If you are affected you will need to collect the correct packaging data from 1 January 2023.

The guidance covers:

• Check if you need to take action
• Packaging activities
• Packaging definition
• What you may need to do
• Collecting and submitting your packaging data
• Getting help from a third party (compliance scheme)

A guide to collecting data about your packaging has been issued for UK organisations that will be affected by extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. Organisations should start preparing now to capture this data.

The guidance includes details on:

• What data you need to collect
• Packaging activity data
• Packaging material and weight data
• Packaging type data
• Waste type data
• Check if you need to report nation data
• How parent companies should report data
• How your data will be used
• Examples of how to report data

Source:

S (SI) 2022/330 – The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2022 – gov.uk, in force 1 January 2023

NI (SI) 2022/286 – The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 – gov.uk, in force 1 January 2023

GB (SI) 2022/1222 – The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2022 – gov.uk, in force 1 January 2023

Guidance. Packaging waste: prepare for extended producer responsibility – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Environment Agency, updated 24 November 2022

Guidance. How to collect your packaging data for extended producer responsibility – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Environment Agency, issued 24 November 2022