Packaging Waste
Any packaging that has been discarded by the end user and enters the waste stream. Packaging waste is the central focus of EPR regulations, which aim to ensure it is properly collected, sorted, and recycled.
Packaging waste is packaging material that has fulfilled its purpose and been discarded. It is the primary subject of EPR for packaging regulations.
Packaging waste streams:
- Household — discarded by consumers at home, collected by local authorities
- Non-household (C&I) — discarded at commercial and industrial premises
- On-the-go — discarded in public spaces (bins, litter)
The UK generates approximately 12 million tonnes of packaging waste annually. Under pEPR, producers must fund the management of household packaging waste through waste management fees, and demonstrate recycling of non-household packaging through PRNs. The goal is to move packaging waste up the waste hierarchy — maximising recycling, minimising landfill, and ultimately reducing the amount of packaging waste generated through better design.
Related Terms
Household Packaging
Packaging that ends up in the household waste stream, discarded by consumers at ...
Non-Household Packaging
Packaging discarded in commercial, industrial, or institutional settings rather ...
Waste Management Fees
The fees charged to producers under pEPR to cover the full net cost of collectin...
Recyclability
The practical ability of a packaging item to be collected, sorted, and reprocess...
Waste Hierarchy
The legally established priority order for waste management: prevention, reuse, ...
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