New Recyclability Assessment Methodology Rules Outlined

What the new Recyclability Assessment Methodology rules mean for your business

There is a new requirement for all Large Producers under the new EPR Packaging Regulations.

A new reporting requirement

The full EPR Packaging Regulations are now in full force from the beginning of 2025 and include a brand-new reporting requirement for all Large Producers from year one.

All household packaging placed onto the UK market from the start of 2025 must be assessed with respect to its ease of recyclability. This assessment must classify all Household Packaging into one of three categories: Red, Amber, Green.

The Regulator has published its own detailed guidance on Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) reporting, which is complex and produces many permutations when classifying packaging. Producers are expected to assess all of their household packaging in line with this guidance.

When will you need to report this RAM packaging data?

The Regulator has confirmed that the first reporting deadline for submitting RAM packaging data will be 1^st October 2025. This is the deadline for reporting H1 2025 packaging data and therefore all ERP UK Packaging Members will need to report this RAM data by the end of August to meet this deadline.

Why is this a new obligation being placed on packaging producers?

The Regulator’s aim for this new legislation is to modulate (or change) the base fees which are applied to all household packaging via the brand-new Household Packaging Waste Disposal [HPWD] fees being charged from October 2025. To modulate HPWD fees from 2026 onwards, packaging materials must be classified into one of the three different categories of Red, Amber or Green.

Who does this affect?

All Large Producers (£2million annual turnover + 50 tonnes of packaging handled) whether individually or as part of a UK group of companies (N.B. if the group as a whole meets both of the Large Producer thresholds, then all companies within the group that handle packaging are viewed as Large Producers). Small Producers are not affected by the new RAM requirements.

How can ERP help?

As a compliance-oriented business, our main priority is assisting and supporting our members with their compliance with these regulations. ERP UK are launching two brand new data services to help our members comply with the new RAM requirements.

Article written by: Stuart Hill, Business Development Manager at ERP UK

Want to know more?

Download our factsheets from the following webpages:

• Data Services
• Packaging
• EPR

Related services

Producers: As legislation tightens, compliance is becoming an ever-greater challenge for producers. ERP has the expertise and experience to help you every step of the way. We can assist you in complying with regulations on the recycling of electrical and electronic waste, batteries, and packaging.

Visit our Large Producer webpage for further details

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Contact us today:

Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 6452

E-mail: uk@erp-recycling.org

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