Defra launches EPR data reporting service

This comes even despite a recent delay by a year to the regime, which was originally planned to come into force from 2024. The delay only applied to payments to local authorities, which will now start in October 2025. Other timescales “have not changed”, so producers still have to report packaging data for 2023. The newly launched online service is aimed at helping producers report data.

Obligated large producers and compliance schemes are required to create an account on the service, so they can enrol and submit their packaging data, the government explained. It added that the service opened to compliance schemes as of yesterday (14 August), with large producers able to register from tomorrow (16 August).

Guidance

To help support producers and organisations, the government said it has “provided clarifications to our data specification guidance”. Additionally, it continued, it also published how-to guide videos produced in conjunction with the regulators which can be found on Youtube. 

According to Defra, there will be a session on the RPD service at the next Business Readiness Forum on 5 September, with registration open here. Along with the RPD service, a helpdesk service was launched to answer EPR enquiries, open from 8am to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday. 

Moreover, templates for submitting organisation details were released online. They are set to help organisations structure their data correctly and can be accessed here.

Delay

Rumours have been circulating about the potential delay prior to the government’s announcement, which was published on 25 July. In the update, Defra explained: “There’s been a decision to defer extended producer responsibility for packaging fees for one year. This update reflects that, and also explains that other timescales have not changed – producers still have to report packaging data for 2023.”

Defra then said that it will give an indication of what the material fees will be “as soon as we can” and that these will vary “depending on the materials you report” (see letsrecycle.com story).