Producer responsibility (packaging waste)

The Producer Responsibility Obligation (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 were introduced in 1997 and made under Section 93 of the Environment Act 1995:

The Regulations place an obligation on companies who supply packaging (ie manufacturers of packaging, sellers of products supplied in packaging, importers of goods in packaging etc) to ensure that a specified amount of packaging waste is recovered or recycled each year.
A company is required to calculate its obligation and either register directly with SEPA or join a compliance scheme which then registers with us on behalf of its members.
Our costs of regulation are covered by charges set in the regulations. Section 94(1) (p) of the Environment Act gives the Government the power to determine the charges.

**2009–2010 charge rates**
Individual registration	£

For each producer	776
For each ‘small’ producer who uses the allocation method	564

For each producer registering as a group of companies:	776
Plus:
For each of the first four subsidiaries	180
For each of the fifth to the 20^th subsidiaries	90
For each of the 21^st and subsequent subsidiaries	45

Resubmission of an application which failed to meet the requirements of regulation 7(4) or (9) on the previous submission	220

There will be no fee for those subsidiaries of groups with a turnover <£5M who elect to follow the allocation method.

Scheme registration

A scheme’s total registration fee is the number of members in the scheme multiplied by the relevant charge.
For each scheme member	564
For each ‘small’ scheme member who uses the allocation method	345

For each scheme member registering as a group of companies	564
For each small scheme member registering as a group of companies	345
Plus:
For each of the first four subsidiaries	180
For each of the fifth to the 20^th subsidiaries	90
For each of the 21^st and subsequent subsidiaries	45

Changes to membership made after 7 April	110
Resubmission of an application which failed to meet the requirements of regulation 14(3)(c) or 14(6).	220

Application for accreditation
Issue of Packaging Recovery Notes (PRN) or Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERN) for 400 tonnes or less in the year for which accreditation is granted	505

In other cases (ie issue of PRNs or PERNs for more than 400 tonnes)	2616
Where an initial application to issue up to 400 tonnes or PRN/PERNs has been made, and the applicant subsequently issues more than 400 tonnes, a top up fee.	2616

Further details about producer responsibility can be found here.