Our company has a turnover of more than £2 million and we mainly pack our products into cardboard boxes. However, we used fewer than 50 tonnes of packaging last year. Do we need to comply with the Regulations this year?

No. Although you have satisfied most of the criteria for an obligated producer, you have not satisfied ALL the criteria (in this case the tonnage threshold). You do not need to comply with the Regulations this year. However, you should still maintain a record of the packaging that you handle, because should you use more than 50 tonnes of packaging this year, and the other factors remain the same, then you will have to comply with the Regulations next year.

Our company meets / has met all the criteria for an obligated producer. What are the consequences of not complying with the Regulations?

Fulfilling the criteria and thus being an obligated producer under the Regulations means that your business or group of companies MUST register with the appropriate Agency in the relevant compliance year. Failure to do so is an offence and the company can be prosecuted by the appropriate Agency. Many businesses have already been successfully prosecuted for non-compliance.

What is a PRN?
PRN is the abbreviated name for Packaging (Waste) Recovery Note. A PRN is a certificate that may be issued by an accredited reprocessor when packaging waste has been recycled or recovered within the UK. PRNs are used as evidence by producers and compliance schemes to prove that packaging waste has been recovered and recycled. A PRN has an export equivalent called a PERN. This is the abbreviated name for Packaging (Waste) Export Recovery Note. PERNs may be issued by an accredited exporter when packaging waste has been recycled or recovered by an accredited reprocessor outside of the UK.

Do we have to recycle our own waste?
Your obligation is based upon the packaging that you handle (i.e. the packaging that flows through your company), not the packaging waste in your own bins. You are not required to recycle your own waste, although it may be beneficial, from an environmental and financial perspective, to do so. For further information on waste management and recycling of your own waste, see our recycling section

We already recycle our waste - does this help?
If you are sending some of your own packaging waste for recycling (e.g. card or plastic), then you may be entitled to obtain PRNs. If you already obtain PRNs / PERNs from your own recycling, then you should submit them to the scheme. You will be credited for these PRNs / PERNs, thereby reducing your compliance costs.

Do we have to use Veolia Environmental Services for our waste collection?
No. Compliance Scheme members are under no obligation to use any of the other services of the Veolia Environnement Group. However, if you would like advice regarding your own waste collection and recycling, please contact our head office, Veolia House, on 020 7812 5000.

How do the costs break down?
There are four elements to the charges that scheme members are liable for:
1. An annual membership fee: based on your chosen level, Silver or Gold.
2. An Environment Agency registration fee: based on whether or not your company is eligible for, and chooses to use, the allocation method.
3. A subsidiary fee, if applicable: if you are joining the scheme as a group of companies, the fee will be based on the number of subsidiaries that you register.
4. A material levy: based on the cost of acquiring PRNs / PERNs, or equivalent evidence, on your behalf.

Click here for actual costs and more information.

How do I join?
Simply download our Application / Membership Agreement Form and return it to:

Veolia Environmental Services’ Compliance Scheme,Lindon Road, Brownhills, Walsall, West Midlands, WS8 7BB. The Packaging Data Form must be completed and submitted to us by the 28th February each year, or sent with your Application / Membership Agreement Form if you are joining after this date.

Click here for more information.