Section 18 Regulations regarding Extended Producer Responsibility (GN R.1184, Gazette 43880, 5 November 2020) made under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008; product-specific notices for paper and packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, and lighting

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

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

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

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

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

EPR in Canada is set province by province under the CCME action plan, with British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec running the most developed full producer-funded systems for packaging, paper, electronics, batteries and other product streams. Ottawa has no overarching federal EPR statute; CEPA underpins toxic-substances rules and federal coordination, while provinces operate the schemes through PROs such as Recycle BC, Circular Materials and Éco Entreprises Québec.

Enforcement

Mandatory

Effective date

BC packaging EPR since 19 May 2014; Ontario Blue Box transitioned to full producer responsibility 1 July 2023 with full rollout by end-2025; Quebec modernised packaging EPR effective 1 January 2025; EEE, batteries, tyres and paint schemes since the 2000s

Covered entities

Producers (brand owners, first importers, distributors) of packaging, printed paper, EEE, batteries, tyres, paint, lamps, used oil and other regulated products in each province; thresholds vary (e.g., Ontario small-producer exemption below CAD 2 million revenue or 1 tonne supplied)