KR-EPRIn force

Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources (Resource Recycling Act, Article 16); Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles

South Korea · Ministry of Environment (MoE); Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco) administers the EPR system

South Korea was one of the first non-EU countries to adopt EPR, requiring producers and importers to meet annual recycling targets set by the Ministry of Environment for packaging and listed products under Article 16 of the Resource Recycling Act. Producers that miss targets pay the cost of recycling plus a 15 to 30% surcharge to Korea Environment Corporation.

Category
Extended Producer Responsibility
Enforcement
Mandatory
Effective date
EPR system launched 1 January 2003; EEE and ELV Act effective 1 January 2008; scope progressively expanded to current ~40 product items
Covered entities
Manufacturers and importers of packaging materials (paper packs, metal cans, glass bottles, plastic packaging) and of around 40 listed products including tyres, lubricants, batteries, lamps, electronics and vehicles, above sales thresholds
Notes
The Resource Recycling Act was revised in 2023 to align with circular-economy roadmap targets.

Sources

Verified 2026-04-30

Related regulations

South-Korea-ISSB

Local adoption of IFRS S1 / S2 (ISSB Standards)

South Korea · Korea Sustainability Standards Board (KSSB) of the Korea Accounting Institute, with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) determining application by listed entities
KSSB exposure drafts of Korean Sustainability Disclosure Standards (KSDS) issued; consultation closed 31 August 2024; FSC considering application by listed entities, with adoption indicated from after 2026

Korea's KSSB published exposure drafts of three Korean Sustainability Disclosure Standards (KSSB 1, KSSB 2 and the non-mandatory KSSB 101) with consultation closing 31 August 2024; the Financial Services Commission is considering disclosure requirements for listed entities, indicating adoption from after 2026.

Enforcement
Voluntary or under development
Effective date
Not yet specified
Covered entities
To be determined. FSC will consider application of KSDS by listed entities once final standards are issued
IFRS Foundation profile ↗Verified 2026-04-30
In force; PPWR replaces Directive 94/62/EC and applies from 12 August 2026

The EU runs product-specific EPR regimes for packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, vehicles and single-use plastics, putting collection, recycling and recycled-content obligations on producers placing goods on the single market. The 2025 Packaging Regulation tightens recyclability, reuse and recycled-content rules and applies directly in all Member States from August 2026.

Enforcement
Mandatory
Effective date
PPWR entered into force 11 February 2025, general application 12 August 2026; Battery Regulation entered into force 17 August 2023 with phased obligations through 2027; WEEE Directive in force since 2012; SUP Directive transposition deadline 3 July 2021
Covered entities
Producers, importers and distributors placing packaging, EEE, batteries, vehicles or single-use plastic products on the EU market, regardless of material or origin
Primary source ↗Verified 2026-04-30
In force; pEPR fee invoicing started October 2025

The UK runs separate producer responsibility regimes for packaging, electrical equipment, batteries and end-of-life vehicles, with producers paying fees to fund household collection and recycling. The 2024 pEPR rules shift the full net cost of household packaging waste onto large producers, replacing the previous shared-cost PRN system.

Enforcement
Mandatory
Effective date
pEPR Regulations made December 2024, in force 1 January 2025; first reporting year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026; WEEE Regs since 1 January 2014; Battery Regs since 5 May 2009
Covered entities
Packaging producers with turnover above GBP 1 million and handling more than 25 tonnes of packaging per year (lower threshold for small producers); WEEE producers placing EEE on the UK market; battery and ELV producers
Primary source ↗Verified 2026-04-30
In force; VREG amended 2022 to extend scope to all EEE

Switzerland operates advance disposal fee (vRG) schemes for electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, glass bottles and PET, run by industry organisations (SENS, SWICO, Inobat, PET-Recycling Schweiz) under federal ordinances. Packaging EPR for paper, cardboard and plastic remains largely voluntary, organised through municipal collection.

Enforcement
Mandatory
Effective date
VREG in force since 1 July 1998, revised scope effective 1 January 2022; VVEA effective 1 January 2016; battery and glass advance disposal fees in place since the 1990s
Covered entities
Manufacturers, importers and retailers of electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, glass and PET beverage containers placing products on the Swiss market
Primary source ↗Verified 2026-04-30
In force; revised packaging EPR rules applied from 1 July 2025

Norway implements EU-style EPR through Avfallsforskriften, requiring producers of packaging, EEE, batteries and vehicles to join a Producer Responsibility Organisation approved by the Environment Agency. Since July 2025, the previous 1,000 kg-per-material exemption for packaging has been abolished, so every importer or producer must register and report.

Enforcement
Mandatory
Effective date
Avfallsforskriften in force since 2004; Chapter 7 packaging EPR revised effective 1 July 2025 (1,000 kg threshold removed); WEEE provisions since 1999
Covered entities
Any company that professionally imports or manufactures packaging, packaged products, EEE, batteries or vehicles for the Norwegian market; from July 2025 all packaging producers regardless of volume
Primary source ↗Verified 2026-04-30
In force; phased rollout of zero waste certification continues

Türkiye runs a national Zero Waste framework that pairs source separation rules for institutions with producer responsibility duties for packaging and electrical equipment, all administered by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. Packaging producers must register in the zero waste information system, hit recovery targets and pay deposits or fees set under the Packaging Waste Control Regulation.

Enforcement
Mandatory
Effective date
Zero Waste Regulation effective 12 July 2019, amended 9 October 2021; Packaging Waste Control Regulation effective 26 June 2021
Covered entities
Public institutions, large commercial premises, packaging producers and importers, EEE producers; building and premises operators required to set up zero waste systems on phased schedule in annexes
Primary source ↗Verified 2026-04-30