Reprocessors and exporters - what you must do

If you recover, recycle, or export packaging waste you can apply for accreditation under the Producer Responsibility Obligations.

This will allow you to provide electronic packaging waste recovery notes (ePRNs) and electronic packaging waste export recovery notes (ePERNs) to businesses and compliance schemes.

ePRNs and ePERNs are issued for each tonne of packaging waste reprocessed or exported for reprocessing. Businesses and compliance schemes obtain ePRNs or ePERNs to show that they have met their packaging recovery and recycling targets. As an accredited reprocessor or exporter you can charge for this service.

You can apply for accreditation from your environmental regulator using the National Packaging Waste Database. You will have to pay a fee to apply.

To apply for reprocessor accreditation you must provide evidence of the:

• source of the packaging waste that you reprocess
• weight of the packaging waste
• efficiency of your reprocessing plant
• final use of the recovered material.

For further information see our guidance for businesses that collect, store, treat, dismantle or reprocess materials for recycling or composting.

If you export material for reprocessing, you must provide evidence of:

• the source of the packaging waste that you export
• the weight of the packaging waste
• the point of export
• Clearance by customs of the receiving country
• the destination of the packaging waste (details of interim recipients are not sufficient).

For more information see our guidance on transporting waste into, out of, or through the UK.

If you store, treat or dispose of packaging waste you may need an environmental permit (England and Wales) or a waste management licence (Northern Ireland and Scotland).

If you transport waste yourself, you will also need to register with your environmental regulator as a waste carrier.

Further information

UK-wide

England and Wales

Scotland

In this guideline: