U.K Environmental Agency Publishes Packaging Producer Responsibility Monitoring Plan for 2026

On December 22, 2025, the Environment Agency in England (United Kingdom) published the Packaging Producer Responsibility Monitoring Plan 2026, outlining how it will monitor compliance with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. The plan details the Agency’s monitoring policy for obligated producers (including online marketplaces), approved compliance schemes, accredited reprocessors and exporters, focusing on validating registration data, reporting accuracy, progress toward recycling targets, and identifying non-compliant businesses such as drop-offs and free riders. Monitoring activities include data validation, analysis of packaging recycling notes (PRNs) and export recycling notes (PERNs), risk profiling, and additional compliance checks such as site visits or remote audits. The plan also explains how enforcement action will be taken where necessary under the Agency’s enforcement and sanctions policy, taking into account the severity of non-compliance and environmental risk. These monitoring activities support enforcement of the UK’s extended producer responsibility regime for packaging waste and aim to ensure accurate data, legal recycling practices, and progress toward national recycling objectives.