Key Takeaways

Your PackUK EPR invoice is based on the data you submitted through DEFRA’s RPD portal — accurate data means accurate invoices.
Fees are calculated per material type multiplied by your reported tonnage, with modulation adjustments for recyclability.
Check your invoice against your submitted data — errors in data submission flow directly into incorrect charges.
You can dispute incorrect invoices by providing evidence of data errors to PackUK.
Late payment may incur penalties — ensure you have budget allocated before invoices arrive.

What Is a PackUK EPR Invoice?

PackUK is the scheme administrator for packaging EPR in the UK. After you submit your packaging data through DEFRA’s Report Packaging Data (RPD) service, PackUK calculates your fees and issues an invoice.

The invoice represents your financial obligation under EPR — the amount you must pay to cover the costs of collecting, sorting, and recycling the packaging you placed on the UK market.

For background on EPR fees, see how EPR fees are calculated.

Invoice Components

A typical PackUK EPR invoice includes:

Header Information

Invoice number and date
Your organisation details and registration number
Reporting period (e.g., January-December 2025)
Payment due date

Fee Breakdown

Line Item	Description
Base disposal costs	Cost of waste collection and sorting for your packaging
Material-specific fees	Fees broken down by material type (plastic, card, glass, etc.)
Modulation adjustments	Adjustments based on packaging recyclability
Nation weighting	Adjustments based on where packaging was distributed
Scheme costs	PackUK administration and compliance costs
Total amount due	Sum of all charges

Supporting Schedule

The invoice should include a schedule showing:

Your reported tonnage per material
The fee rate applied per material
The calculated fee per material
Any adjustments or credits

How Fees Are Calculated

The basic formula is:

Fee = Tonnage (by material) x Fee Rate (per tonne) x Modulation Factor

Worked Example

Material	Tonnage	Fee Rate	Modulation	Fee
Corrugated card	100t	£215/t	1.0	£21,500
Plastic (recyclable)	30t	£360/t	1.0	£10,800
Plastic (non-recyclable)	10t	£440/t	1.2	£5,280
Glass	50t	£192/t	1.0	£9,600
Fibre composite	5t	£461/t	1.0	£2,305
Total	195t			£49,485

The modulation factor adjusts the base rate up or down based on specific recyclability characteristics. Non-recyclable packaging attracts modulation factors above 1.0.

For detailed fee rates, see the EPR fees by material type guide.

Checking Your Invoice

Step 1: Verify Tonnage Data

Compare the tonnage figures on your invoice against the data you submitted through the RPD portal. They should match exactly.

If they do not match, there may be:

A data processing error by PackUK
A correction applied by PackUK based on validation checks
An amendment you submitted that was not processed

Step 2: Verify Fee Rates

Check that the fee rates applied match the published rates for the reporting period. Fee rates are published annually by PackUK.

Step 3: Check Modulation

Verify that modulation adjustments are correctly applied. If your packaging is widely recyclable, you should see a favourable (lower) modulation. If it is non-recyclable, expect a higher modulation.

Step 4: Verify Material Classification

Ensure your packaging has been classified under the correct material types. Common errors include:

Paper/card classified as fibre composite (much higher fee)
Separable multi-material items classified as composites
Steel classified as aluminium (or vice versa)

Step 5: Check Nation Weighting

If nation weighting adjustments are applied, verify they align with your submitted nation data.

Disputing an Invoice

If you believe your invoice is incorrect:

Gather evidence — your submitted data, packaging specifications, weight records
Identify the specific error — which line item is wrong and why
Contact PackUK — through their formal dispute process
Provide supporting documentation — packaging audit records, corrected data files
Request a corrected invoice — PackUK should issue a revised invoice if the error is confirmed

Grounds for Dispute

Tonnage figures do not match your submitted data
Material classifications are incorrect
Modulation factors are incorrectly applied
Calculation errors in fee computation
You were charged for packaging that is not your obligation

Timeframes

Disputes should be raised promptly — ideally within 30 days of receiving the invoice. Delayed disputes are harder to resolve.

Payment Terms

Payment deadline: As specified on the invoice (typically 30-60 days from issue)
Payment methods: Bank transfer (BACS) is standard
Late payment: May incur interest charges and could trigger enforcement action
Instalment plans: Contact PackUK if you need to discuss payment arrangements

Budget Planning

Plan for EPR fees in your annual budget. You can estimate costs using:

Your previous year’s tonnage data
Current published fee rates
Our EPR fee calculator

Reducing Future Invoices

Your EPR invoice reflects the packaging you placed on the market. To reduce future invoices:

Reduce packaging weight — less tonnage = lower fees
Switch to recyclable materials — lower modulated fees
Improve material classification — ensure separable items are not reported as composites
Review your data accuracy — avoid over-reporting

See how to reduce EPR costs for detailed strategies.

Visit our pricing page for compliance management tools.

How to Read Your EPR Invoice from PackUK

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