Packaging waste: 2026 registration and accreditation process for reprocessors and exporters
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-25)

Process to apply for mandatory registration and voluntary accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging for 2026.

This page lists the information that you’ll need to complete an application or applications for 2026 and links to the forms you must submit.

This is a new process. There is detailed guidance about how to apply for registration and accreditation (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter). Read that guidance and this page before starting the process.

Before you start, make sure you have:
- gathered all the information you need before completing each online form
- decided who your approved person (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#approved-person-requirement) will be and understand what their role is
- prepared a sampling and inspection plan (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) (SIP)
- your overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging-templates-for-sampling-and-inspection-plans#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) (ORS) if you are an exporter
You can save your progress on the forms and return to finish completing them up to 28 days later.

You must be ready to submit a registration and an accreditation form for each material you’re reprocessing or exporting, and for each site if you’re a reprocessor.

How it works

Submit an organisation details form and you will receive an organisation ID and system reference number by email - you need both of these for the other forms.

Submit a mandatory registration form for each material you’re reprocessing or exporting, and for each site if you’re a reprocessor.

Submit an accreditation form for each material you’re reprocessing or exporting, and for each site if you’re a reprocessor.

Pay the application charge or charges.

Accreditation is optional, but mandatory if you wish to issue packaging recycling notes (PRNs) or packaging export recycling notes (PERNs).

Your regulator has 12 weeks to determine your application. They will contact you once your application has been processed.

Submit your organisation details

You must complete this form to receive your organisation ID, which you need to apply for registration or accreditation.

Your organisation ID will be mailed automatically when you submit - you’ll be able to begin registration straight away.

Selecting the correct national regulator

When you click any of the start buttons on this page, you’ll be asked which of the 4 UK nations you are based in. This will direct you to the form for the relevant national regulator.

If you are solely a reprocessor, you must select the nation where your site is based. If you’ve got sites in different UK nations, select the one that’s in the same nation as your head office.

If you are an exporter at all, select the nation where your head office is based.

Before you start

You’ll need:
- your organisation name and trading name, if applicable
- your Companies House number, if applicable
- the address of your registered office, head office or principal place of business
- the nation or nations in which you have sites
- if you’re a partnership, the names of all partners in your organisation
Submit your organisation details

Submit your organisation details (https://submit-form-to-defra.service.gov.uk/form/extended-producer-responsibilities-organisation-details-starter-form)

Apply for registration as a reprocessor

You must complete one form for each material for each site.

If you have 3 sites reprocessing 3 materials each, you’d complete 9 forms.

When asked where you are based, you must select the nation that matches the site address.

Before you start

You’ll need:
- your organisation ID
- details of who the regulator can contact about this application, known as the ‘registration contact’
- the site address
- an address for service of notices and other legal documents
- all packaging waste categories that the site has a permit or exemption for, even if you do not need to register them
- permit numbers and authorisations for any permits the site has
- waste exemption references, if applicable
- the maximum weight of packaging waste the site could reprocess, per year, month and week
- your waste carrier, broker or dealer registration number
- the packaging waste category you’re applying to register (one per form)
- a list of the type of suppliers you receive packaging waste from - for example, supermarkets
- a list of the key plant and equipment used for reprocessing
- your sampling and inspection plan part 1 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) for the packaging waste category you’re registering
- details of the approved person (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#approved-person-requirement)
You’ll also need detailed information about your inputs, outputs and products from 2024.

For your inputs from 2024, you must declare how many tonnes of each of the following you dealt with:
- UK packaging waste
- non-UK packaging waste
- non-packaging waste
- raw material inputs
For your outputs from 2024, you must declare how many tonnes of each of the following you produced:
- total of the packaging waste category sent to other sites for reprocessing
- total contaminants from reprocessing the packaging waste category
- total process loss from reprocessing
For products made in 2024, you must give:
- the product name
- the tonnage of product
Apply for registration as a reprocessor

Apply for reprocessor registration (https://submit-form-to-defra.service.gov.uk/form/extended-producer-responsibilities-reprocessor-registration-starter-form)

Apply for accreditation as a reprocessor

You must complete a form for each material and for each site.

Example You reprocess glass, aluminium and paper at one site. At another site you reprocess glass and paper. You wish to issue PRNs for all the materials at both sites. You need to submit 5 forms.

When asked where you are based, select the nation that matches the site address.

Before you start

You’ll need:
- your organisation ID
- contact details for the person completing the form
- the address and postcode of the site
- the packaging waste category you want accreditation for
- the name and email address of your ‘PRN signatory’ - the person authorised to issue PRNs under this accreditation
- details of your business plan
- your sampling and inspection plan (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) part 2 for the packaging waste category you are applying to accredit
You will also have to choose a tonnage band. The bands are:
- up to 500 tonnes
- up to 5000 tonnes
- up to 10,000 tonnes
- more than 10,000 tonnes
Submitting the accreditation form for 2026

To submit the accreditation form for 2026, you must be the approved person for your organisation.

If the approved person cannot submit the form themselves, another person may do so. The person submitting the application must get email confirmation from the approved person, verifying that the information provided is accurate and complete.

The approved person must email this confirmation to the regulator. The regulators cannot consider your application until they have received this confirmation.

This does not constitute setting up a delegated authority. The process for applying for delegated authority via the digital service is currently being developed. Further guidance will be available soon.

Apply for accreditation as a reprocessor

Apply for reprocessor accreditation (https://submit-form-to-defra.service.gov.uk/form/extended-producer-responsibilities-reprocessor-accreditation-starter-form)

Apply for registration as an exporter

Complete one form for each material.

When asked where you are based, select the nation where your head office or registered office is located.

Before you start

You’ll need:
- your organisation ID
- details of who the regulator can contact about this application
- an address for service of notices and other legal documents
- your waste carrier, broker or dealer registration number
- any applicable permit numbers or waste exemption references
- the packaging waste category you’re applying to register (one per form)
- a list of the type of suppliers you receive packaging waste from - for example, supermarkets
- names of the UK ports you use for exporting this packaging waste category
- your sampling and inspection plan part 1 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) for the packaging waste category you are registering
- your overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging-templates-for-sampling-and-inspection-plans#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) (ORS)
- details of the approved person (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#approved-person-requirement)
You do not need to submit broadly equivalent evidence (BES) at this stage, but will for accreditation.

Apply for registration as an exporter

Apply for exporter registration (https://submit-form-to-defra.service.gov.uk/form/extended-producer-responsibilities-exporter-registration-starter-form)

Apply for accreditation as an exporter

Complete one form for each material.

Select the nation where your head office or registered office is located.

Before you start

You’ll need:
- your organisation ID
- contact details for the person completing the form
- the packaging waste category you want accreditation for (one per form)
- the name and email address of your ‘PERN signatory’ - the person authorised to issue PERNs under this accreditation
- details of your business plan
- your overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging-templates-for-sampling-and-inspection-plans#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) (ORS)
- your sampling and inspection plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging-templates-for-sampling-and-inspection-plans#sampling-and-inspection-plan-sip) part 2 for the packaging waste category you’re applying to accredit
You will also have to choose a tonnage band. The bands are:
- up to 500 tonnes
- up to 5000 tonnes
- up to 10,000 tonnes
- more than 10,000 tonnes
Submitting the accreditation form for 2026

To submit the accreditation form for 2026, you must be the approved person for your organisation.

If the approved person cannot submit the form themselves, another person may do so. The person submitting the application must get email confirmation from the approved person, verifying that the information provided is accurate and complete.

The approved person must email this confirmation to the regulator. The regulators cannot consider your application until they have received this confirmation.

This does not constitute setting up a delegated authority. The process for applying for delegated authority via the digital service is currently being developed. Further guidance will be available soon.

Apply for accreditation as an exporter

Apply for exporter accreditation (https://submit-form-to-defra.service.gov.uk/form/extended-producer-responsibilities-exporter-accreditation-starter-form)

How to submit evidence of ‘broadly equivalent standards’ (BES)

Check the broadly equivalent standards for packaging (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/receiving-exported-waste-meeting-eu-equivalent-standards/examples-of-equivalent-environmental-standards-for-packaging-batteries-and-weee) for information on what evidence you will need to provide both in general and for specific countries.

England

After submitting your application you will be sent a link to your own folder on Quatrix, a secure file sharing service. Upload your BES evidence there. If you are applying for more than one material you will be sent a link for each.

Please use naming convention: ORS full name, issuing competent authority, original/translated, expiry date.

Scotland

Submit your BES evidence by e-mail to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

If you are applying for more than one material submit BES evidence for each material in separate emails. Indicate in the email which material the BES evidence applies to.

Northern Ireland

Submit your BES evidence by email to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Make sure:
- attachments to each email do not exceed 30 MB
- you state the material type in title of the document
Wales

Submit BES evidence by e-mail to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

If you are applying for more than one material submit BES evidence for each material in separate emails. Indicate in the email which material the BES evidence applies to.

What you’ll pay and how to pay

The main guidance contains details of all charges (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/packaging-waste-apply-for-registration-and-accreditation-as-a-reprocessor-or-exporter#what-youll-have-to-pay).

England: bank transfer

Use these details to transfer your payment:
- account name: EA RECEIPTS
- company name: Environment Agency
- sort code: 60-70-80
- account number: 10014411
- bank: RBS/Natwest, London Corporate Service Centre, CPB Services, 2nd floor, 280 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4RB
Reprocessors must use the reference ‘PR/PK/REP’, followed by your organisation ID. Exporters must use the reference ‘PR/PK/EXP’, followed by your organisation ID.

Email the reference and your date of payment to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Northern Ireland: bank transfer

Use these details to transfer your payment:
- account name: DAERA
- sort code: 95-01-21
- account number: 61253506
- bank: Danske bank, PO BOX 183 Donegall Square West, Belfast, BT1 6JS
BACS remittance advice should go to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Use the reference ‘NI/PR/REEX’, followed by your Org ID.

Scotland: bank transfer or pay online
- account name: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- account number: 00137187
- sort code: 83 – 34 – 00
- bank name: Royal Bank of Scotland, 30 Nicholson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DL
- reference: E800 83505
Use SEPA’s secure payment portal (https://beta.sepa.scot/about-sepa/online-payments) to pay online.

Wales: bank transfer

Use these details to transfer your payment:
- company name: Natural Resources Wales
- sort code: 60-70-80
- account number: 10014438
- bank: RBS, National Westminster bank plc, 2 ½ Devonshire Square, London, EC2M 4BA
- company address: Income department, PO BOX 663, Cardiff, CF24 0TP
Use the reference: ‘PREX’ followed by your organisation ID.

Mail the reference and date of payment to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Other ways to pay

Contact your environmental regulator to discuss paying through other methods - for example paying by credit card over the phone or posting a cheque.

What happens next

Once you’ve completed your application and paid your application charges the regulators have 12 weeks to determine your application. If they need any clarifications they will ask the contact you provided at registration.

If there are no questions they will let the contact know the outcome of your application.

Contact your regulator

Environment Agency

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Natural Resources Wales

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)