Claire Davies, Head of Producer Compliance at Biffa, discusses the impact of recent extended producer responsibility legislation and how businesses can address these updates with confidence and save money in the long run.
EASING EPR CHALLENGES
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is one of the most complex pieces of legislation within the UK government’s Resources and Waste Strategy.
Whilst other initiatives – such as the Deposit Return Scheme and Simpler Recycling – follow clearer implementation plans, many businesses remain uncertain about how to navigate EPR effectively.
At its core, EPR shifts the financial responsibility for packaging waste from taxpayers to the companies – or ‘producers’ – that introduce packaging materials to the UK market. Under the scheme, businesses must collect and report detailed data on their packaging usage, which is then used to calculate household waste management fees. These fees will be modulated based on recyclability, as determined by the Recycling Assessment Methodology (RAM) – meaning more sustainable packaging will result in lower costs.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BUSINESSES?
The biggest challenge for producers is reporting. Previously, businesses only needed to submit waste data once a year. Under EPR, large businesses must now report bi-annually, with the first submissions having started in 2023. Smaller producers were required to report annually from April 2024.
The level of detail required has also increased – businesses must now report specific materials, weights, and packaging types. From 2025, producer fees will come into effect, though final details were expected in July 2024. These fees will be modulated based on the environmental impact of packaging materials, creating a financial incentive for businesses to adopt more sustainable packaging solutions.
EPR is designed to encourage businesses to rethink packaging design, ensuring materials are both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. However, as the financial responsibility for packaging waste shifts to producers, businesses must now factor these additional costs into their budgets.
HOW TO REDUCE EPR COSTS – ACT NOW
The best step manufacturers can take right now to ease the impact of EPR is to work with a compliance partner.
Your partner will have a team of dedicated experts who can take on reporting duties for you; they’ll be clued up on the regulations and be able to offer advice that will save your business money in the long run.
Getting your data and reports reviewed by an expert will open up opportunities for efficiencies and optimisations to be made that will reduce the financial burden of EPR whilst supporting your organisation in achieving its sustainability goals.
Partnering with a dedicated compliance team will also help you avoid the risk of non-compliance. EPR regulations have already become law, so failing to report on your packaging data and pay modulated fees later this year carries serious risks.
A compliance partner also ensures businesses stay ahead of regulatory updates, such as changes to RAM assessments, and helps implement long-term sustainability strategies that reduce costs and improve environmental impact.
Finally, get clued up on the legislation and what it means for your business. This year is the perfect time to plan for the higher costs the regulations will incur and switch your packaging to recyclable materials once your data is properly tracked. Read Biffa’s Practical Guide to EPR and the government’s complete guidance to remove the risk of continued confusion.
To support manufacturers with EPR and other upcoming legislative changes and mitigate the costs incurred, we at Biffa have released a new whitepaper – ‘What if you could unlock value from manufacturing waste?’ – to coincide with the launch of a refreshed Manufacturing Waste Solutions proposition.
The guide advises manufacturers on unlocking value from waste to achieve sustainability and commercial goals amid the sector’s pressures and examines the lifecycle of manufacturing waste, from design to disposal.
