Every UK packaging EPR deadline in one place. Whether you are a large producer reporting twice a year or a small producer with an annual submission, this calendar covers every date you need to know for 2026 and 2027 — from data submissions and nation of sale requirements to fee invoices and the Deposit Return Scheme launch.
The reporting structure under EPR splits producers into two categories. Large producers (50+ tonnes of packaging, £2m+ turnover) submit packaging data twice per year — H1 covering January to June, and H2 covering July to December. Small producers (25–50 tonnes, £1m+ turnover) submit a single annual return covering the previous calendar year.
All dates below are based on published DEFRA guidance as of March 2026. We will update this page as new dates are confirmed or if any deadlines change.
Large Producers
50+ tonnes • £2m+ turnover
Report twice per year. H1 data due by 30 June, H2 data due by 31 December. Must include full RPD 15-column data and nation of sale breakdowns.
Small Producers
25–50 tonnes • £1m+ turnover
Report once per year by 1 April, covering the previous calendar year. Simplified data requirements but still obligated under EPR.
Past deadline
Next critical deadline
Upcoming deadline
Future deadline
1 January 2026
EPR Year 2 Begins
The reformed Extended Producer Responsibility scheme enters its second full year of operation. All obligations from Year 1 continue, with fee modulation multipliers increasing. Producers should have their data collection processes firmly established by now.
All obligated producers
1 April 2026
Small Producer Annual Data Submission
Small producers must submit their annual packaging data covering January to December 2025. This is the full RPD submission including tonnages by material, packaging type, and activity. First year that nation of sale data is required for all 2025 data.
Small producers
1 April 2026
Nation of Sale Data First Required
For the first time, all producers must break down their 2025 packaging data by the nation in which it was sold — England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. This data feeds into devolved nation waste cost calculations and is mandatory for both large and small producers.
All obligated producers
30 June 2026
Large Producer H1 Data Submission
Large producers must submit their first half-year packaging data covering January to June 2026. The submission follows the DEFRA RPD format: 15 columns including material type, packaging class, activity, tonnage, and recyclability data.
Large producers
1 October 2026
First EPR Fee Invoices from PackUK
The scheme administrator PackUK is expected to issue the first round of
EPR fee invoices, covering the period April 2025 to March 2026. Invoice amounts will be calculated based on your submitted packaging data, material types, and RAM recyclability ratings. Fee modulation multipliers apply.
31 October 2026
PackUK Invoice Payment Deadline
All obligated producers
31 December 2026
Large Producer H2 Data Submission
Large producers must submit their second half-year packaging data covering July to December 2026. Combined with the H1 submission, this completes your annual reporting obligation. Ensure any corrections to H1 data are flagged in this submission.
Large producers
1 April 2027
Small Producer Annual Data Submission
Small producers submit their annual packaging data covering January to December 2026. As with the prior year, this must include full RPD data and nation of sale breakdowns. This is also the deadline for nation of sale data for the 2026 reporting year.
Small producers
1 April 2027
Nation of Sale Data for 2026
All producers must submit their 2026 nation of sale data, breaking down packaging tonnages by England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This information is used to allocate waste management costs across the devolved nations.
All obligated producers
30 June 2027
Large Producer H1 Data Submission
Large producers submit their H1 2027 data covering January to June 2027. By this point the reporting process should be well-established, but pay attention to any updates to material categories or RPD format changes announced by DEFRA.
Large producers
1 October 2027
Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Launches
The UK
Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers goes live. Producers selling beverages in scope containers will need to register with the DRS scheme administrator, apply deposits to qualifying products, and manage the interaction between DRS obligations and wider EPR reporting.
October 2027
Second Round of EPR Fee Invoices
PackUK is expected to issue the second annual round of EPR fee invoices. With a full year of fee modulation experience, producers who improved their RAM ratings since the first invoicing cycle should see the financial benefit reflected in lower per-tonne charges.
All obligated producers
31 December 2027
Large Producer H2 Data Submission
Large producers submit their H2 2027 data covering July to December 2027. This completes the third full year of EPR reporting. Fee modulation multipliers will have widened further — making recyclability improvements even more financially impactful.
Large producers
What Happens If You Miss a Deadline
Penalties for Late or Missing Submissions
DEFRA and the Environment Agency have enforcement powers for non-compliance with EPR obligations. Missing a submission deadline can result in:
- Civil penalties — financial fines proportionate to the severity of the breach
- Variable monetary penalties — up to £250,000 for serious or repeated non-compliance
- Enforcement undertakings — legally binding commitments to rectify non-compliance
- Late payment interest — charged on overdue EPR fee invoices
The simplest way to avoid penalties is to have your data ready well before each deadline. Read our full guide to EPR penalties and fines for more detail.