Y2 Illustrative EPR Base Fees for 2026 Announced by PackUK

On 16th December 2026, PackUK confirmed that EPR base fees will increase from 2026, reflecting the full net cost of managing household packaging waste under the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility.

The table below sets out the Y2 illustrative EPR fees for 2026/27, broken down by material type. These indicative fees are intended to help producers understand the likely scale of future costs and begin planning ahead.

Fees are illustrative only and subject to change. Fees have been rounded to the nearest £5 for publication.

Alongside the illustrative base fees, PackUK has also confirmed the modulation policy, outlining how EPR fees will be adjusted from 2026 onwards to incentivise the use of more recyclable packaging.

For the first time, the published figures include indicative Red, Amber and Green fees, demonstrating how modulation will operate under the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM). From Year 2, fees will be modulated as follows:

• Red-rated packaging: 20% higher than the Amber fee
• Green-rated packaging: 9% lower than the Amber fee

The table below illustrates how Red and Green modulation factors affect base fees for 2026, highlighting the potential cost impact of poor recyclability – or missing data – compared with more recyclable packaging formats.

Against current 2025 levels, the scale of these increases is significant. Illustrative red fees show plastics rising by  29%, with paper and card up 28% and glass increasing by 28%. For many producers, this represents a material uplift in EPR costs from 2025, even where packaging formats remain unchanged.

With PackUK confirming higher base fees from 2026, early planning is now essential.

Under RAM reporting rules, any missing or incomplete packaging data automatically defaults to a Red rating, significantly increasing future fee exposure. Taking proactive steps now to identify data gaps enables producers to forecast EPR costs more accurately and to understand how targeted changes to packaging design could reduce fees in the years ahead.

If your organisation has not yet gathered and assessed its RAM data, you are not alone. Many producers are still navigating what is a complex and time-intensive requirement. This is where RAM Assess can help.

RAM Assess enables you to:

• Identify data gaps that would otherwise trigger default Red ratings, giving you time to correct issues ahead of submission
• Analyse existing Red-rated components, helping you prioritise the changes with the greatest potential cost impact

With a clear view of your EPR fee exposure, you can move beyond reactive compliance and start making informed, cost-reducing packaging decisions – before higher fees take effect.