compliance teamThe 2026 household packaging rates, read correctly
Step 1
List packaging by component
Step 2
Assign published categories
Step 3
Apply the rate and the minimum
Step 4
Have classification reviewed
| Control | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|
| Scope | Entity, product, channel, stream and source |
| External action | Version, date, authorised filer and issued receipt |
| Maintenance | Source data, approval, invoice and next deadline |
The structure is per material category
Rates are published per material category in euro per kilogram, excluding VAT. Recyclable materials sit far below the single rate applied to non-recyclable, complex and obstructive packaging.
Two categories that look similar can be priced very differently. Aluminium is split by thickness, and the thinner band is many times the price of the thicker one.
A minimum contribution applies
Once a company is a member, a minimum annual contribution applies, and it is higher where obstructive or household-hazardous packaging is placed on the market. Paying by direct debit reduces it.
A very small declarer therefore does not pay a proportional amount; it pays the minimum.
Estimates are not invoices
The published rates carry four decimals while invoicing is performed on six. A calculated figure will not tie exactly to an invoice, and it is presented as an estimate for that reason.
Classification, not arithmetic, is where the real variance sits: whether an item is rigid or flexible, transparent or opaque, and whether it is treated as obstructive.
Conclusion
Scope comes before a form. Connect the legal entity, product, sales channel and EPR stream to the rule that actually applies.
Evidence must remain traceable. Keep source data, versions, approvals, filings, receipts and every record issued by an external body.
Third-party decisions are never guaranteed. Approved schemes, public registers, the regulator and marketplaces control their own procedures, timing and decisions.