Packaging waste data reported by reprocessors and exporters
Aggregated packaging waste data from reports by accredited reprocessors and exporters under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Documents
Details
The data was extracted from the ‘Record reprocessed or exported packaging waste’ service on 21 July 2026.
Accredited reprocessors and exporters must submit monthly reports to show how much waste packaging they have reprocessed or exported.
The data is broken down by month and includes the following information:
- tonnage of packaging waste received
- how much waste was recycled, exported or sent on
- tonnage of packaging waste recycling notes (PRNs) and packaging waste export recycling notes (PERNs) issued
- average prices per tonne for the sale of PRNs and PERNs
- tonnage credited to operators’ waste balances
Data for England is published on a separate tab, however the data for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is only shown as part of the UK data – this is to protect commercial data for identifiable operators.
What this data does and does not cover
This data includes packaging waste data submitted by accredited UK reprocessors and exporters.
The data does not include:
- data from accredited reprocessors and exporters who are required to report their data but have not
- data from accredited reprocessors and exporters who reported their data after the date it was extracted from the system
- quarterly data from reprocessors and exporters who only hold a registered status
- data from accredited reprocessors and exporters who reported data for a period when an accreditation was not held
- data from accredited exporters who reported data for waste sent to an overseas reprocessing site that was not included in their accreditation
The inclusion of credited waste balance data has been introduced in response to industry feedback requesting greater transparency on the supply of evidence available to the PRN market.
This data shows the total tonnage credited to accredited operators’ waste balances during the reporting month, broken down by material type. It includes both the following:
- tonnage for which PRNs/PERNs have subsequently been issued
- tonnage for which PRNs/PERNs could be issued in the future but have not yet been generated
The credited waste balance data for accredited reprocessors is taken from one of the following datapoints:
- reprocessors issuing PRNs based on the tonnage of packaging waste received for recycling (inputs) – this reported data forms the credited waste balance
- reprocessors issuing PRNs on the proportion of product tonnage that was packaging waste (outputs) – this reported data forms the credited waste balance
For accredited exporters, the credited waste balance data is derived from exports recorded as being received at an approved overseas reprocessing site, which was approved at the date of export.
The data is subject to change due to late submissions and resubmissions.
The regulators have a duty to monitor the accuracy of EPR for packaging data submitted into the reporting service. The most recent month’s published data has not been reviewed by regulators. All the preceding month’s published data has been subject to reasonable, targeted and proportionate risk-based checks by regulators. For example, for data published in July, the data from June has not yet been reviewed.
Where regulators identify anomalies they will work with operators to appropriately rectify them. It is the ultimate responsibility of accredited waste operators to provide timely and accurate monthly reports.
If you have any questions about this data set, contact: packaging@environment-agency.gov.uk
Updates to this page
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The data was extracted from the 'Record reprocessed or exported packaging waste' service on 21 July 2026. Added further details about the credited waste balance data.
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The data was extracted from the 'Record reprocessed or exported packaging waste' service on 22 June 2026.
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First published.