Packaging EPR fees: How to prepare for your 2025 invoices

What are packaging EPR fees?

Packaging EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) fees are charges applied to producers who place household packaging on the UK market. These fees fund the collection, sorting, and disposal of packaging waste, as well as national recycling communications. Learn more from Defra’s official guidance.

When will invoices be issued?

Invoices are expected mid to late October 2025. You can:

• Pay in full within 50 days of issue
• Or split payments across November, January, April, and June

Invoices will be available via the Report Packaging Data (RPD) portal. Make sure your team has access now.

What happens if you pay late?

Late payments may trigger one of the following penalties (whichever is greater):

• 20% of unpaid fees
• 5% of UK turnover (individual registration)
• 2% of UK turnover (group registration)

How is your invoice calculated?

PackUK has published the 2025/26 base fees per tonne of household packaging. Your invoice reflects:

• Your 2024 data submission
• Any resubmissions made
• Potential recalculations by Pack UK if material differences arise

Can you use a Purchase Order?

No. Packaging EPR invoices are statutory debt. PackUK is not a supplier, so:

• No purchase orders will be issued
• VAT numbers will not be quoted

Group registrations: Who gets the invoice?

If your company is part of a group:

• Only the parent company will receive the invoice
• The parent company is responsible for payment

How to prepare your business

To avoid delays and penalties:

• Log into the RPD portal
• Add finance contacts via the Manage Account page
• Review your cost forecast from Valpak (request a new one if you’ve resubmitted data)
• Alert your finance team to prepare for payment

Need help?

• Contact PackUK Helpdesk: 0300 060 0002 or [email protected] 
• Speak to Valpak’s environmental compliance advisors: 03450 682 572 or [email protected]

Summary and next steps

Packaging EPR fees are imminent. To stay compliant:

• Understand your obligations
• Prepare your team
• Avoid late penalties
• Optimise your costs – Valpak helps businesses reduce pEPR fees through data accuracy, smarter packaging design and proactive forecasting

Visit our Packaging Compliance page for expert support and guidance.