Changes to waste sampling and reporting requirements for materials facilities

A number of changes that aim to improve the quantity and quality of waste data, especially packaging data, obtained from materials facilities* (MFs), will come into force from 1st October 2024. This data will be used in the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme, to ensure packaging producers pay the cost of managing the packaging they place on the market.

*Materials facility refers to a site that receives waste material and separates it or consolidates it.

Legislative context

Part 2 of Schedule 9 to The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 was amended by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. The changes aim to improve the quantity and quality of waste data, especially packaging data, obtained from MFs. Also, more MFs are brought into the scope.

Backround

MFs that received and separated mixed waste* were required to collect and report data on the material arriving and leaving the site. MFs likely to receive 1,000 tonnes of mixed waste in a year were required to sample at least 60kg for every 125 tonnes of mixed waste received at the facility from each supplier. Those MFs were also required to sample and report against fewer categories of input and output waste material** and report average data.

*Mixed waste means waste material** of 2 or more types.

**Waste material means household waste or waste of similar type or composition, which contains glass, metal, paper, card, plastic, or fibre-based composite material, and which has been separately collected for re-use or recycling.

What is changing from 1st October 2024

Extended scope

From 1 October 2024, more materials facilities will need to sample and report their waste. This includes MFs managing source segregated or single waste streams, bulking stations, and waste transfer stations.

MF operators affected for the first time in October 2024 must notify the regulator in writing if they receive 1,000 tonnes or more of any waste material.

Exemptions 

The changes will not apply to MFs that:

• only handle waste electrical goods;
• only receive and consolidate waste from one supplier; or
• are provided by councils for the recycling and disposal of household waste.

Sampling

Input sampling  

Waste material received from each supplier (input material) must be identified within a sample as 1 of the following material types: glass, aluminium, steel, paper, card, plastic bottles, plastic pots, tubs and trays, film or other flexible plastic, other plastic, fibre-based composite material*.

*Fibre-based composite material means packaging material made of paperboard or paper fibres, laminated with plastic.

MF operators must take a sample (input sample) for every 75 tonnes of waste material they receive from a supplier. The average weight per sample must be 60 kg or more and each individual sample must weigh at least 55 kg.

Output sampling

MFs that sort packaging waste must grade specified output materials and record this for the following: glass, paper, card, aluminium, steel, plastic, and fibre-based composite.

Packaging materials

The proportion of packaging and drinks containers (except glass) that are part of the deposit return scheme (DRS) must be measured and recorded during input and output sampling.

N.B. Sampling of glass packaging only needs to be done when requested by the regulator, which must notify the MF at least 4 weeks in advance.

Recording and reporting

MFs must now report raw data rather than averages and keep data recorded after 1st October 2024 for 7 years.

Detailed guidance on the changes to waste sampling and reporting requirements for MFs can be found here.