EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
Is your business obligated?
To assist you in understanding whether your business is obligated under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), we have developed an online Obligation Checker.
This interactive tool will help you assess whether you meet the thresholds set out below.
To understand the obligations under EPR, it is important to differentiate between two distinct sets of obligations.
- The first is the waste cost and recycling obligations, with an obligation to report placed on the market data, meet recycling obligations, and pay disposal costs for Local Authority collected waste.
- The second is the nation of sale obligation, with an obligation to report where packaging is disposed, broken down by nation within the UK.
Waste cost and recycling obligations
These obligations are closely related to the existing producer responsibility for packaging scheme. Producers who are captured under these obligations must register with their regulator, collect and report information on the packaging that they supply to the UK market.
For those who have a ’full obligation‘, they will then have to meet further obligations based on this data, as set out in guidance.
Nation of sale obligation
Not all producer types will be obligated for both sets of obligations.
Understanding whether your business is obligated or not, requires assessing your business against a range of criteria across two obligations, which can be done via the Obligation Checker.
We have published guidance on How to collect your packaging data for EPR and guidance on Packaging waste: prepare for extended producer responsibility. These supplement the Obligation Checker tool and should be used together to further understand EPR requirements.
You can also view the following recordings on YouTube:
- A demonstration of the Obligation Checker tool
- A recording of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – January 2023 requirements
Obligation Checker FAQs
Question: Where is the guidance for the Obligation Checker?
Answer: The Obligation Checker tool is designed to help you understand if you are obligated under EPR. A demonstration video on how to use tool is available on YouTube.
Question: Do I need special software to run the Obligation Checker?
Answer: The Obligation Checker will work on any web browser and is compatible with mobile phone sites.
Question: How long will it take to see if I’m obligated using the Obligation Checker?
Answer: The Obligation Checker should take no more than five minutes.
Question: Will the Obligation Checker be available in other languages?
Answer: The Obligation Checker has been released in English and we are working to provide a Welsh version soon.
Question: Can I get a printout of the result after I run the Obligation Checker?
Answer: Yes.
Question: If I have a question on the Obligation Checker – who can I ask?
Answer: If you have any questions, please contact us here.
Question: What happens if I do not agree with the end result once I complete the Obligation Checker? Can I dispute the result?
Answer: The Obligation Checker and accompanying guidance sets out Governments interpretation of the regulations. If you disagree, you should seek independent legal advice.
Question: How often can I run the Obligation Checker?
Answer: You can use the Obligation Checker as many times as required.
Question: Will there be updates to the Obligation Checker?
Answer: The Obligation Checker will be updated as required to ensure it reflects the current legal requirements.
Question: Is it mandatory to use the Obligation Checker?
Answer: The Obligation Checker is an advisory tool, therefore is not mandatory to use.
Question: If I make a mistake on the Obligation Checker or if my business criteria changes mid-year can I re-run and resubmit the information?
Answer: Yes, the Obligation Checker is an advisory tool, so you can use it as many times as required.
Question: Will my information be held anywhere after using the Obligation Checker? If so, who will have access to my information?
Answer: No data will be stored.
Question: I have a mixture of packaging types, does the Obligation Checker account for this?
Answer: The Obligation Checker assesses whether you are obligated under EPR. It therefore assesses total packaging weight, not the weight of a specific category of packaging.
Question: I am a new company and haven’t got completed first year accounts yet?
Answer: You should use accounts from the last financial year where they are available. If audited accounts are not available for your company, you will not be obligated under EPR for that year.
Question: I don’t know the amount of packaging I currently place on the market?
Answer: Businesses that handle packaging are legally obligated to assess their packaging tonnage each year. If you do not know how much packaging you supplied, you will need to assess this prior to using the Obligation Checker tool.
Question: Is data required based on the total amount of packaging that we place on the market based on sales or based on the total amount of packaging that we purchase to use as a business (there will be some internal wastage, so where does this come in)?
Answer: The data requirement is the total amount handled (so placed on the market and amount used as a business). Internal wastage also needs to be reported.
Useful links
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – January 2023 requirements presentation on YouTube
Demonstration of Obligation Checker
Guidance Packaging waste: prepare for extended producer responsibility
Guidance How to collect your packaging data for EPR
Data Reporting SI The Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) (England) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)
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