Local authorities are being encouraged to register for the government’s Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) service as preparations continue for mandatory reporting in October 2026. This follows the legislation being passed by government earlier this year.

Defra has opened registration to councils that operate, manage or have responsibility for waste sites, giving them the opportunity to establish their accounts ahead of the first mandatory requirements.

The first phase of Digital Waste Tracking is scheduled to become mandatory in October 2026 in England and Wales, followed by Scotland and Northern Ireland in January 2027.

The requirements will vary between the four nations.

In England, waste received at permitted sites will generally need to be recorded, although household waste deposited by residents at permitted household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) is excluded.

For local authorities, the current scope in England is limited to sites handling commercial waste. HWRCs in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to enter the system during later phases.

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Preparing for DWT

Defra is recommending that local authorities register before the mandatory reporting requirements begin.

Early access will allow councils to establish their “Report receipt of waste” service account, allocate users and permissions, and agree reporting arrangements for sites operated by contractors.

It will also give staff time to become familiar with the platform and prepare for submitting information once reporting becomes compulsory.

Councils are being advised to assess their reporting responsibilities across their sites and contractors and decide how they will submit information.

Available options are expected to include direct submission through an API for operators using compatible waste management software, as well as a spreadsheet-based route.

Defra has also stressed that existing waste recording requirements will continue to apply during the transition to DWT.

Local authorities that took part in the private beta will need to complete registration again before the system becomes mandatory.

UK Packaging PRO has appointed Kerry Easter as its new Chief Executive Officer, with Karen Graley taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer as the producer responsibility organisation prepares to move beyond its initial set-up phase.

The appointments mark the next stage in the development of the UK's packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme operator, which represents more than 100 major producers, retailers and trade associations.

UK Packaging PRO has been established with support from a number of industry organisations, including the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN).

Announcing the appointments, Chair Sebastian Munden said: "Kerry brings exceptional international experience of leading complex supply chains, transforming organisations and embedding sustainability across major consumer businesses.

"Karen brings deep expertise in packaging policy and producer responsibility, alongside the operational knowledge and relationships developed through UK Packaging PRO's establishment and mobilisation.

"Their complementary experience will give the organisation the strategic leadership, continuity and operational focus it needs for its next stage of development."

Jeremy Blake, Chief Executive of PackUK, also welcomed the appointments.

He said: "These appointments are an important step for UK Packaging PRO as it moves from mobilisation into delivery.

"Together, they give UK Packaging PRO the leadership, operational discipline and stakeholder focus needed to help build an effective, efficient and evidence-led packaging EPR system across the UK."

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Kerry Easter Appointed as PRO CEO

Easter joins the organisation after a career spanning supply chains, manufacturing, quality, innovation and business transformation across the food, drinks, beauty, personal care and retail sectors.

Before joining UK Packaging PRO, she was Global Head of Category Supply Chain for Gin, Rum and Vodka at Diageo.

Her previous roles also include senior positions at Unilever and The Estée Lauder Companies, while she was also a co-founder of Rituals.

Easter commented: "I'm delighted to be joining Sebastian, Karen and the team in this exciting growth phase of UK Packaging PRO and wider packaging circularity across the UK.

"My immediate priority will be to engage with the organisation's partners and stakeholders, taking input to build on the foundations already established.

"We will ensure that UK Packaging PRO develops the appropriate strategies, capability and discipline required for a successful next phase."

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Karen Graley to Oversee PRO Operations

As Chief Operating Officer, Graley will be responsible for developing UK Packaging PRO's operational capability, governance and delivery arrangements.

She has been closely involved in the organisation's establishment and mobilisation and brings experience across retail, FMCG, packaging, environmental compliance and producer responsibility. Graley added:

"I am looking forward to building UK Packaging PRO into an organisation that is trusted by producers, respected by its partners and recognised for delivering practical results."

"I look forward to working alongside Kerry, our Board, our growing team, PackUK and partners across the value chain to build the capability, relationships and momentum needed to make packaging EPR work effectively and deliver meaningful, measurable improvements."

Defra has launched a new consultation on reforms to the Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) system, outlining proposed measures to strengthen oversight and address potential misuse.

Open until 5 May 2026, the consultation introduces a range of options intended to improve fairness between UK reprocessors and exporters.

This consultation builds on changes introduced in January 2026.

Defra has indicated that, although those earlier reforms marked progress, additional steps are necessary to further develop the system.

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Measures Relating to System Integrity

A central aspect of the consultation is the introduction of safeguards to address the risk of improperly issued PRNs and PERNs.

According to Defra, such issues can affect market balance by increasing the volume of evidence available and influencing pricing.

Proposals under consideration include:

• Granting regulators the authority to cancel PRNs or PERNs where there is evidence they were issued incorrectly
• Strengthening due diligence requirements for compliance schemes and producers when acquiring evidence
• Increasing transparency through the publication of accreditation suspensions and cancellations
• Introducing mandatory registration and reporting obligations for brokers and trading platforms

Additional measures focus on refining how the “recyclable proportion” of waste is calculated, with the aim of ensuring that evidence is issued only once material has completed the recycling process.

The consultation also suggests that national protocols used to estimate recycling rates could be subject to periodic review, potentially every three years, to reflect changes in waste composition.

Commenting on the proposals, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “Through our proposed reforms, we will support our recycling sector by stamping out fraudulent activity and boosting recycling rates.

“I encourage all packaging producers, reprocessors, and exporters to engage with our consultation, aimed at ensuring a level playing field for all businesses.”

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Compliance Mechanisms Under Review

Defra is also seeking feedback on potential mechanisms to support compliance in situations where PRNs or PERNs are in limited supply.

Two approaches are outlined:

• A fee-based option that would allow producers to meet their obligations without PRNs in exceptional circumstances
• A provision enabling limited use of evidence from the following compliance year

Both options are described as contingency measures, intended for use only when standard compliance routes are not available.

UK Packaging PRO has officially been appointed by PackUK as the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for the UK’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) programme.

The organisation, which is led by producers, has been established to support a number of responsibilities currently handled by PackUK.

Bringing together over 100 major UK brands, retailers and trade associations, UK Packaging PRO has gained support from key industry bodies such as the Food and Drink Federation and the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment.

According to PackUK, the appointment followed a thorough and competitive selection process designed to ensure the chosen organisation could effectively represent the full scope of the UK packaging sector.

Jeremy Blake, Chief Executive of PackUK, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome UK Packaging PRO as the new Producer Responsibility Organisation.

“This announcement follows a rigorous selection process, as PackUK was committed to choosing the best candidate possible to represent the diverse interests of the packaging industry.”

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Rollout Begins in April 2026

UK Packaging PRO will formally take on its role from 1 April 2026, with responsibilities being phased in over time.

Its duties are expected to include developing fee modulation and recyclability methodologies, overseeing communications and public engagement, and supporting operational delivery.

While UK Packaging PRO will take on delegated responsibilities, PackUK will continue to oversee its activities and ensure accountability to governments across the UK.

Key administrative decisions, including those relating to local authority payments and producer fees, will remain under PackUK’s control.

Compliance schemes will remain essential partners to producers, continuing to support data, reporting, obligation management and day‑to‑day compliance under the pEPR framework.

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Strengthening Industry Involvement in pEPR

The introduction of a PRO builds on the strong representation and practical insight that compliance schemes have long provided to Defra and the regulators, further strengthening relationships between policymakers and industry across the pEPR system.

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh added: “This government will accelerate the circular economy transition.

“Our packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme will incentivise businesses towards more sustainable packaging choices and improve recycling services in every region.

“The launch of UK Packaging PRO, led by businesses and working closely with PackUK, is a major step forward”

Compliance schemes will continue to play a vital role in supporting producers. At Wastepack, we remain fully committed to championing our members’ needs. We continue to listen closely, engage proactively with industry, and advocate on behalf of producers to help deliver a system that is efficient, fair and effective for every stakeholder. We look forward to working alongside the producer‑led UK Packaging PRO to ensure our members’ insights and practical experience continue to inform the successful delivery of pEPR.

If you have any questions about pEPR or the introduction of a PRO, our team is here to help, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch here.

PackUK has alerted packaging producers to a rise in fake invoices being circulated by email.

Legitimate Notices of Liability (NoLs) were issued to obligated producers last month, outlining the charges they will be required to pay under the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme.

Since then, the scheme administrator has become aware of counterfeit NoLs being sent out, some of which falsely claim to provide “recalculated” figures.

PackUK stressed that no recalculated notices are being released at this point in the process. Should any genuine amendments be necessary, producers will receive an entirely new notice directly through the official channels.

Producers are being urged not to interact with links or attachments in unexpected emails. Instead, they should log in to their Report Packaging Data (RPD) accounts to verify and pay any invoices.
PackUK also reiterated that it will never issue payment links by email and warned that fraudsters may also attempt to contact producers by phone or post.

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Understanding pEPR Payments

The current NoLs are based on packaging data from 2024 and reflect the cost of managing household packaging waste between April 2025 and March 2026. From 2026 onwards, fees under the EPR system will be influenced by the recyclability of packaging, assessed using PackUK’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM).

PackUK’s enforcement framework states that producers who fail to meet payment deadlines may face variable monetary penalties. These are calculated as whichever is higher:

• 20% of the outstanding fees, or
• 5% of UK turnover for a single registered entity, or 2% of UK group turnover for organisations registered as a group.

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If you think you’ve been targeted by fraud

Producers who are unsure about the authenticity of any communication, or who suspect they may have fallen victim to a scam, are encouraged to contact the EPR support team at eprcustomerservice@defra.gov.uk.

PackUK noted that fraud attempts tend to increase during busy periods, such as when official notices are being sent out, and urged producers to remain vigilant.

The Environment Agency (EA) has updated its public records in line with the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules for packaging with a new producer register.

The update replaces the old “large producer list” with a refreshed online register of producers, which is now updated daily.

The aim is to increase visibility around which businesses are complying with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.

The new register includes details such as:

• Whether a company is categorised as a large or small producer
• Its producer registration number
• Its Companies House number

You can view the producers' public register here.

All businesses listed have registered for the 2025 compliance year and will therefore need to meet their packaging responsibilities under pEPR. Producers who should register but have not yet done so will not appear in the register.

Compliance Scheme Register

Alongside the producer register, a second public list has been created covering packaging compliance schemes.

These schemes, authorised by regulators in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, exist to support businesses in fulfilling their legal requirements. This includes registering and reporting packaging data.

While schemes cannot enrol producers directly into the data reporting system or pay disposal-related costs, they are permitted to cover registration fees on behalf of members and to file packaging data with regulators.

You can view the compliance scheme public register here.

Fees Under pEPR

For producers in 2025, the key financial obligation will be payment of the base fee, which PackUK (the Scheme Administrator) is expected to invoice in October.

Defra confirmed the final base fees in June 2025, issuing them alongside a Regulatory Position Statement. At the same time, it published a breakdown of expected payment amounts for local authorities across the UK.

Most of these payments, which in many cases run into the millions, are scheduled for November this year.

PackUK has released essential invoicing guidance and a recommendation checklist, which can be found on their website here.

The Flexible Plastic Fund (FPF) unveiled its FlexCollect report at the UK Parliament this week (1 September 2025), with encouraging results for flexible plastic packaging.

The report draws together insights from more than three years of trials, offering a blueprint for rolling out kerbside collections of items such as bread bags, crisp packets and other plastic film.

Over the course of the initiative, 10 pilot councils covering around 160,000 households took part in the trial.

Together, they collected over 400 tonnes of flexible plastics – equivalent to more than 50 million bread bags.

It was formally launched at the Houses of Parliament, at an event hosted by Amanda Hack MP and attended by Mary Creagh CBE MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra.

These findings arrive ahead of the government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, which will make flexible plastics collections mandatory from 2027.

Key Results From The Trials

The report concludes that flexible plastics can be “effectively collected” across a range of service types, with minimal disruption to existing operations. Trials tested both dedicated bags and mixed-collection approaches.

Close to 90% of the material collected was target packaging, with contamination levels remaining low. The quality of material was considered “very clean”, reflecting positive household sorting behaviours.

Recycling outcomes were also promising, with recovery rates of around 80% when reprocessed into flakes or pellets, and up to 100% for applications such as plastic timber.

The trials revealed little effect on local authority collection rounds. Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) involved in the programme successfully integrated the material without significant operational changes, though in some cases minor upgrades – such as adding bays or conveyors – were required.

Next Steps for the Flexible Plastic Fund

Looking ahead, the report highlights a shortfall in UK recycling infrastructure to meet the anticipated 2027 demand.

However, with around 100,000 tonnes of new or planned domestic facilities, along with spare European processing capacity, much of this gap could be bridged.

The blueprint calls for accelerated investment in UK reprocessing plants and the development of reliable end markets for recycled film products.

The FPF confirmed it will continue building on the success of FlexCollect by conducting deeper research into recycling systems for flexible plastics.

The project was supported by FPF members, including Mars UK, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever and a wide range of food and FMCG brands, alongside funding from Defra, Innovate UK and other partners.

PackUK has announced the individuals selected to sit on three newly formed voluntary advisory groups.

The bodies are designed to provide expert perspectives on the rollout of the producer Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme.

These groups – which will meet four times a year and work alongside the Scheme Administrator Steering Group – will contribute specialist knowledge to help shape the programme’s guidance, processes and overall delivery.

Earlier in 2025, PackUK invited applications from those interested in joining, with the deadline for submissions closing on 24 March.

The Advisory Groups

• Recyclability Assessment Methodology Technical Advisory Committee (RAM TAC): This panel will advise on packaging sustainability and the ongoing development of the recyclability assessment methodology (RAM). It will also handle technical questions about packaging materials and report findings back to PackUK.
• Efficiency and Effectiveness Technical Advisory Committee (E&E TAC): Operating as an independent discussion forum, this group will share expertise and recommendations to improve local authority and waste management practices across the UK.
• Communications and Behaviour Change Advisory Group (CBCAG): This team will support the design of communication strategies aimed at encouraging greater public engagement with recycling initiatives.

While none of the panels hold decision-making powers, PackUK emphasised that members bring a broad mix of operational knowledge and policy expertise, which will help reinforce the effectiveness of the scheme.

You can view the full list of appointed members here.

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About PackUK

PackUK officially launched on 21 January 2025 as the appointed administrator for the UK’s pEPR scheme.

Its responsibilities include setting and collecting producer fees, and distributing funds to local authorities.

According to Defra, the pEPR system is expected to generate more than £1 billion annually to support household recycling and waste services.

PackUK, formerly the Scheme Administrator, has officially published the final base fees for packaging producers under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for 2025. These fees, anticipated since the provisional figures in December 2024, will be invoiced in October and are payable in four instalments.

The newly released figures show notable reductions across most material categories:

• Glass sees the largest cut, dropping by 20%
• Aluminium is down 38.9%
• Steel is down 15.1%
• Fibre-based Composite is the only category to rise, increasing by 1.3%

This comes as welcome news, particularly for those impacted by the previously high glass charges.

The fee calculation is based on household packaging tonnages (excluding some DRS-covered drinks packaging), combined with “binned” packaging data. For glass, a separate estimate of 2.05 million tonnes was used, due to inconsistencies in DRS implementation across the UK. Based on this, it is expected that the EPR scheme will raise £1.46 billion in 2025, with glass’s share decreasing slightly and plastic’s increasing.

In addition to the base fees, a Regulatory Position Statement confirmed that producers will not face enforcement if they omit the Recyclability Assessment Methodology from their first-half 2025 data, although they must still distinguish between rigid and flexible plastics.

Defra is also reviewing the definition of household packaging, particularly the controversial “dual-use” category, which has disproportionately affected the hospitality sector. Furthermore, the government acknowledged systemic issues in PRN/PERN and waste export systems, especially for glass and plastic.

A government spokesperson reaffirmed the importance of EPR in driving recycling reforms, with over £1 billion expected annually, supporting both environmental goals and economic growth.

The UK-wide ban on single-use vapes is now less than two months away, with enforcement beginning on 1 June 2025.

The legislation, announced in October 2024, applies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It will ban the sale of all single-use, disposable vapes - regardless of nicotine content - sold both in-store and online.

The ban aims to address growing concerns around environmental damage and youth vaping.

Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.”

The government estimates that nearly five million disposable vapes are thrown away or littered each week in the UK. These products, which often contain lithium-ion batteries, contribute to fire risks and pose challenges for waste facilities.

Under the new rules, reusable vapes will remain legal, provided they are both rechargeable and refillable. Devices with coils must allow for easy replacement by consumers, ensuring they meet sustainability standards.

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Guidance on the vape ban

In January 2025, Defra issued guidance to help businesses comply with the upcoming restrictions.

Retailers must remove all unsold single-use vapes from sale by 1 June, store them securely off the shop floor or website, and arrange for their proper recycling.

The guidance also reinforces the legal requirement for distributors to offer a “take back” scheme for used vape products, even after the ban comes into effect.

Defra has also outlined the penalties for non-compliance.

In England, civil sanctions such as £200 fines will be issued for initial breaches. However, repeated offences could result in unlimited fines or up to two years in prison.

In Wales, similar penalties apply, while Scotland and Northern Ireland may impose fines of up to £5,000.

Retailers and distributors are reminded that the deadline of 1 June 2025 is fast approaching. The full guidance is available on the Defra website to support compliance and ensure a smooth transition away from single-use vaping products.

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Support for the ban

The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) has urged retailers to support the transition by educating consumers.

CEO Gillian Golden said: “As the single-use vape ban approaches, the transition to refillable and rechargeable devices presents an invaluable opportunity to go beyond recycling. Embracing these sustainable alternatives not only reduces waste but also sets a new standard for environmentally conscious vaping.”

Public support for the ban is strong, with 69% of respondents to a government consultation in February 2024 backing the proposal.

The measure is widely seen as a step towards a circular economy, promoting the reuse of valuable resources and protecting public health.

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View our previous stories on the UK-wide single-use vape ban... "UK to Ban Single-Use Vapes from June 2025 [24.10.24]" and "Defra announced that it has banned the use of single-use vapes in the UK [01.02.24]".