Provisional pEPR Fees for 2026: What Businesses Need to Know
Early Fee Indications Released
Businesses obligated under the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme have now received an early look at the charges expected to apply from January 2026. Defra has released a provisional schedule of fees, but has noted that the final legislation confirming these amounts has not yet passed through Parliament, meaning that the figures could still change.
The new charges come shortly after amendments to the pEPR regulations were placed before Parliament in November 2025. Those amendments introduced several refinements to how the scheme is administered and how producer obligations are handled
How the Provisional Fees Compare to 2025
The 2026 fees show notable increases in almost every category when set against the 2025 baseline. In many cases, the rises go well beyond the current inflation level of 3.8%.
Producer Category | 2025 Fee | Provisional 2026 Fee | % Increase |
Large producer (direct registration) | £2,260 | £2,842 | +25.75% |
Large producer (via compliance scheme) | £1,685 | £1,803 | +7.00% |
Small producer (direct registration) | £1,216 | £1,303 | +7.15% |
Small producer (via compliance scheme) | £631 | £696 | +10.30% |
Late registration | £332 | £386 | +16.27% |
*These fees are scheduled to apply from 1 January 2026.
The adjusted charges will also apply to late submissions and resubmissions of previous compliance years once the 2026 schedule comes into force.
Group Structures and Additional Fees
For organisations that report as part of a corporate group, the charges are set to scale as follows:
- First 20 subsidiaries → £690 each
- Subsidiaries 21 to 100 → £172 each
- Subsidiaries beyond 100 → no charge applied
Two new fee categories are also highlighted in the provisional schedule:
- £2,885 for producers operating as an online marketplace
- £2,548 for producers who:
- Resubmit data, or
- Use the closed loop offset reporting mechanism
Further guidance on closed loop reporting is expected later in 2025.
Why the Fees Are Increasing
The higher costs are tied to the greater regulatory and administrative demands associated with the pEPR system.
Environmental regulators now carry expanded responsibilities, including:
- Verifying reported packaging data
- Monitoring compliance
- Investigating inconsistencies
- Supporting oversight of closed loop recycling claims
These activities require more staffing and oversight, and the increased fees are intended to cover those resource requirements.
Key Takeaways for Businesses
- The charges outlined are provisional, pending final legislation.
- The updated rates are significantly higher than the 2025 charges.
- The new fees are expected to apply from 1 January 2026, including to any:
- Late registrations
- Data updates
- Resubmissions for previous years
Businesses affected by pEPR should begin reviewing budget planning and reporting processes now, ahead of the formal implementation date.
At Affordable Waste Management, we provide fully compliant commercial waste collection services across the UK, helping businesses keep their operations aligned with current regulatory requirements. If your organisation is reviewing its waste arrangements for the year ahead, we can set up your service clearly and efficiently, with straightforward pricing and no hidden charges.