How to register for EPR for packaging as a large producer

Who must register for EPR for packaging

Organisations that have obligations under EPR for packaging (this is called being an ‘obligated producer’) must register with their environmental regulator.

If you’re a small producer, read the guide on how to comply with EPR for packaging as a small producer.

Check if you’re a large or small producer.

Register directly or use a compliance scheme

You have 2 options:

• register directly with your environmental regulator

• register through a compliance scheme

Compliance schemes are third parties that help organisations to comply with EPR for packaging.

Compliance schemes can:

• register  you with your environmental regulator – after you’ve created an account for your organisation by following step 1 of ‘How to register’ in this guide

• pay your registration fees on your behalf

• report your packaging data

• buy packaging waste recycling notes (PRNs) or packaging waste export recycling notes (PERNs) to meet your recycling obligations – only large producers do this

A compliance scheme cannot pay your waste disposal fees. Only large producers pay waste disposal fees.

The register of compliance schemes lists all the approved compliance schemes you can use.

You can also choose to use a compliance consultant. If you do this and do not use a compliance scheme:

• you register directly with your environmental regulator

• you remain legally responsible for complying with EPR for packaging

Deadlines for registration

As a large producer, you must have submitted your application to register by:

• 1 October 2025 – for 2026

• 1 October 2026 – for 2027

If your only packaging activity is selling filled packaged directly to an end user of that packaging, you do not have to submit your application to register for 2027 until 1 April 2027.

Fees for registration

You must register and pay a registration fee each year. For large producers to register for 2027, the fee is:

• £2,842 if you register directly with your environmental regulator

• £1,803 if you register through a compliance scheme

You’ll also need to pay fees to the compliance scheme if you choose to use one. Contact compliance schemes for details of their fees.

Holding companies and subsidiaries

Holding companies and subsidiaries can register either:

• as one group – the holding company can do this even if it is not an obligated producer

• each subsidiary individually

• as a combination of individual subsidiaries and the holding company

If registering as one group, the following registration fees apply:

• the first 20 subsidiaries each pay £690 a year

• subsidiaries 21 to 100 each pay £172 a year 

• there’s no fee for subsidiaries after the hundredth

Online marketplaces

Under EPR for packaging, you’re classed as ‘owning an online marketplace’ if you operate a website or app (online only) that allows non-UK suppliers to sell their goods into the UK.

Online marketplaces must pay an extra £2,885 a year.

Closed loop packaging waste

If you want to submit closed loop packaging waste data, you must state this as part of your large producer registration application. You’ll pay an extra registration fee of £2,548 each year.

Learn more about closed loop packaging waste.

How to register

Step 1. Create an account

Create an account on the Report packaging data (RPD) service. You need to do this whether you’re registering directly with your environmental regulator or using a compliance scheme.

Who can create an account

You can create an account if you’re either:

• an obligated producer

• a holding company

To create an account for your organisation, you must be one of the following:

• a director or company secretary

• a partner

• a sole trader

• a member of a limited liability partnership

Receive approval to report packaging data

You must also meet your environmental regulator’s criteria to be an ‘approved person’. Your regulator will review the information you provide when you create your account, and assess your eligibility to act as your organisation’s approved person.

Once you’re an approved person, it’s your legal responsibility to make sure that the registration details and packaging data your organisation submits are as accurate as reasonably possible.

As an approved person, you can invite other people to join your account. You can give permission for them another person to do things on your behalf in the account.

If you give someone else permission to submit registration details and packaging data on your behalf, your environmental regulator needs to approve them too. This is called adding a ‘delegate’. That person or people will have the same legal responsibilities as the approved person.

Step 2. Check what registration details you need to submit

You need to submit details about your organisation to your environmental regulator through the RPD service.

If you’re registering through a compliance scheme, they’ll complete these steps for you.

If you’re registering directly as an individual organisation or subsidiary, find out how to create your registration details file.

If you’re a holding company that’s registering more than one subsidiary directly, find out how to create your registration details file as a holding company.

Step 3. Upload your registration details

You can upload your registration details file in the area called ‘Registration’ on your account homepage in the RPD service.

Step 4. Submit the details you’ve uploaded

Once you’ve uploaded your registration details file, you then view the applicable fee in your account and submit your file.

Only people with the correct account permission can submit the file.

The information you submit needs to be as accurate as reasonably possible when you submit it.

Step 5. Receive confirmation of your registration fee, pay it and submit your registration application

The RPD service will show you how much you must pay – and how to pay.

Your payment options depend on your environmental regulator but can include:

• online payment using GOV.UK Pay (Environment Agency only)

• card

• BACS

• cheque

If you have any questions about payment methods contact your environmental regulator.

You must pay your registration fee as part of your registration application.

After you’ve submitted your registration application

Your environmental regulator will decide whether to grant your registration application after you’ve:

• submitted your registration details

• reported your packaging data

• paid your registration fee

Your regulator will contact you if they have any questions.

Report changes to your environmental regulator

Keep your registration details up to date

If you no longer have obligations

If your organisation stops having obligations under EPR for packaging, you must tell your environmental regulator within 28 days. This might be because you’ve:

• gone below the packaging thresholds

• stopped carrying out packaging activities

• gone out of business

Financial difficulties

Tell your environmental regulator immediately if your organisation has:

• a winding-up order, or a resolution for voluntary wind-up

• entered insolvency, receivership or administration

If you do not comply with the conditions of registration

Your environmental regulator can cancel your registration if you:

• fail to comply with the conditions of registration, which your regulator will send to you when they grant your registration

• provide false information

Your regulator will write to you before they cancel your registration.

Get help or give feedback

If you have any questions, contact your environmental regulator or the EPR for packaging customer service team.

Check the contact details for regulators and administrators.

You can also give feedback about this guidance.