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UK EPR Packaging Fee Calculator
Enter the tonnes of each packaging material you supply into the UK over 12 months, the RAM band and your turnover. The calculator shows the producer category, the illustrative disposal fee, Plastic Packaging Tax on plastic below 30% recycled content, and the fee at each RAM band.
Two charges, two registries
Packaging EPR and Plastic Packaging Tax are separate. The EPR disposal fee is based on the tonnes and materials you report to the environmental regulator. Plastic Packaging Tax is an HMRC tax on plastic packaging components with less than 30% recycled content, charged at £228.82 per tonne from 1 April 2026 above a 10-tonne registration threshold.
The calculator adds both so the planning number reflects the full recurring charge. It does not replace either registration.
Turnover and tonnage decide the category
A large producer has worldwide turnover of £2m or more and more than 50 tonnes of packaging supplied into the UK. A small producer has £1m or more and at least 25 tonnes. Below both tests the business is out of EPR scope for that year.
Large producers report every six months and pay the disposal fee. Small producers report once a year and do not pay it. The category is re-tested each year, so a growing seller can cross the line without changing its product range.
The RAM band moves the rate
The illustrative year-2 fees differ by recyclability band. Plastic ranges from £415 per tonne in the green band to £545 in the red band; fibre-based composite ranges from £475 to £630. The calculator shows the selected band first, then the green, amber and red totals so the spread is visible before the packaging is redesigned.
These are planning rates. Final fees are confirmed after producers report and can differ by nation and material.
What the estimate leaves out
The result excludes VAT, the cost of registering, the internal cost of collecting the data and any penalties. It also assumes you are the producer that supplies the packaging into the UK; if your importer or marketplace is the producer, the liability may sit elsewhere.
Use the result to test whether a product can carry the fee, then confirm the category and the reported tonnage with the regulator guidance.
EPR requirements — UK, Germany and France — all entries
Every entry links to its full reference page. The search box above filters this list.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plastic Packaging Tax charged at 20% or 30% recycled content?
The test is 30%. Plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content is in scope; 30% or more is exempt. The 20% figure comes from older summaries and is wrong for the current tax.
Does a small producer pay the EPR disposal fee?
No. A small producer reports packaging data once a year but does not pay the waste disposal fee. Only large producers pay it.
Why does the calculator show no Plastic Packaging Tax?
Either the plastic tonnage is below the 10-tonne registration threshold, or you selected 30% or more recycled content. Both take the plastic out of the charge.
Are these the final EPR rates?
No. They are the illustrative year-2 waste disposal fees published for planning. Final rates are confirmed after packaging data is reported and vary by nation and material.
Do I owe both EPR and Plastic Packaging Tax on the same plastic?
Yes, they can both apply. EPR is a disposal fee based on reported tonnage; PPT is an HMRC tax based on recycled content. One registration does not cover the other.
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