New Regulations To Reduce Packaging Waste In Wales
Commercial solicitor Adam Munn explains the Welsh Government’s new regulations requiring producers of packaging in Wales to collect data on the packaging they supply to others.
Key Contact: Richard Voke
Author: Adam Munn
The Welsh Government has introduced new regulations requiring producers of packaging in Wales to collect and report data on the packaging that they supply. The Packaging Waste (Data Collection and Reporting) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (Regulations), which came into force on 17th July 2023, are designed to support the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Scheme (EPR Scheme).
The Regulations require small producers – those with an annual turnover of more than £1 million and who handle more than 25 tonnes of packaging each year – to collect data on the packaging that they supply. Furthermore, large producers – those with an annual turnover of more than £2 million and who handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging each year – are required to collect and report this data to Natural Resources Wales.
The data that producers collect and report will be used to calculate the fees that they will need to pay under the EPR Scheme. Under this scheme, producers will be responsible for the collection and disposal costs of this packaging when it becomes waste. Producers were originally required to start paying the packaging fees under the EPR Scheme in 2024. However, the obligation to pay has now been deferred until 2025.
The Welsh Government’s aim is to provide a financial incentive for producers to become more efficient, improve the recyclability of their packaging and reduce the amount of packaging they place on the market. Similar reporting requirements are due to commence in England on 1 October 2023.
We will continue to track the Regulations and the EPR Scheme and any updates as they develop.
For further information on how these regulations might impact your business, please contact our Regulatory team.
