Packaging and Packaging Waste

England: Environment Agency Publishes 2025 Packaging Producer Responsibility Compliance And Enforcement Report

The Environment Agency has published its 2025 report on compliance monitoring and enforcement for packaging producer responsibility in England, detailing how it supervised producers, schemes, reprocessors and exporters under the current packaging regulations. The findings show intensive, intelligence-led enforcement against misreporting, non-registration and PRN/PERN fraud, signalling continued high expectations for accurate data, timely registrations and readiness for extended producer responsibility obligations.

25 May 2026, 18:29gov.ukUnited Kingdom

New Jersey DEP Conditionally Approves PureCycle PP Under Recycled Content Law

In May 2026 New Jersey’s environment department granted PureCycle a one-year conditional approval for its dissolution-based polypropylene resin to count as recycled content under the state’s packaging recycled content law. This clarifies that advanced recycled PP can help brands meet rising recycled-content obligations and enforcement after 2025, but only if PureCycle and its customers satisfy NJDEP’s documentation, registration, and reporting requirements as the approval is reviewed.

25 May 2026, 18:23resource-recycling.comUnited States

New Zealand Environment Minister Signals Waste Law Overhaul, EPR Framework and Future Plastic Packaging Regulations

In May 2026 New Zealand's Environment Minister used a keynote speech to confirm plans to modernise waste legislation, create an extended producer responsibility framework, and prepare new plastic packaging regulations likely to take effect around 2030. This signals clear policy direction on EPR schemes, container return systems and waste levies, giving waste operators, brands and councils time to anticipate future compliance obligations and infrastructure investment needs.

25 May 2026, 18:21beehive.govt.nzNew Zealand

Maryland Adopts Packaging and Paper Products Producer Responsibility Regulations (COMAR 26.04.14)

Maryland has adopted detailed Packaging and Paper Products Producer Responsibility regulations (COMAR 26.04.14.01–.12), effective 25 May 2026, creating an extended producer responsibility regime for covered packaging and paper materials. Producers and producer responsibility organisations will need to register by material category, design and implement compliant collection and recycling programmes, and update contracts, data and governance to meet new cost, reporting and advisory-council obligations over the implementation timeline.

25 May 2026, 17:11mde.maryland.govUnited States

New York Senate Advances Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S01464A) to Third Reading

The New York Senate has advanced the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S01464A) to third reading, moving a far-reaching packaging extended producer responsibility bill for packaging and single-use plastics closer to passage. If enacted, large producers of packaged goods would need to register with a state-approved organisation, finance recycling infrastructure, cut packaging use, increase reuse and recycled content, and phase out PFAS and other toxic substances from packaging over the coming decade.

24 May 2026, 21:23nysenate.govUnited States

France Postpones Full Ban on Plastic in Disposable Cups to 2030

A December 2025 French ministerial order delays the full ban on plastic in single-use cups from 1 January 2026 to 1 January 2030 while adjusting the intermediate milestones in the plastic-content reduction trajectory. Manufacturers and distributors of disposable cups gain four extra years to scale up plastic-free technologies but still face a hard 2030 transition, so packaging design, sourcing and reuse strategies should be revised accordingly.

23 May 2026, 19:22legifrance.gouv.frFrance

France: Minister Signals Plastic Deposit Plan, ADEME Reorganisation and No Pesticide Reintroduction

In a 20 May 2026 France Info interview, France’s minister for ecological transition announced a forthcoming “grand plan plastique” that could introduce a deposit-return scheme for plastic bottles, alongside ADEME reorganisation and a firm government line against reintroducing banned pesticides in the emergency agricultural bill. These signals point to tighter plastics and waste obligations, changes in how ecological projects are supported locally, and continued political resistance to loosening pesticide rules, all of which could reshape compliance expectations for packaging, waste and agricultural stakeholders in France.

23 May 2026, 11:19vie-publique.frFrance

Vermont Senate Committees Advance H.915 Beverage Container EPR Bill

Vermont’s beverage container extended producer responsibility bill H.915 has cleared key Senate committees and been ordered to third reading, moving a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s bottle bill closer to enactment. If adopted, the law would require beverage producers to join a statewide producer responsibility organisation, set ambitious redemption targets, and channel unclaimed deposits into clean water and waste infrastructure, creating significant compliance and systems-planning needs for brands selling into Vermont.

23 May 2026, 08:46legislature.vermont.govUnited States

Vermont Senate Refers Beverage Container EPR Bill H.915 to Appropriations Committee

On 20 May 2026, the Vermont Senate referred House Bill 915, which would establish an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers, to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review. This keeps beverage container EPR moving through the legislative process and signals that beverage and packaging producers selling into Vermont should monitor the bill closely and prepare for potential new collection and recycling obligations if it is enacted.

23 May 2026, 08:46legiscan.comUnited States

Netherlands Publishes New NEN Standards and Drafts on Environment, Packaging and Product Safety

On 21 May 2026 the Dutch Official Gazette published a comprehensive NEN notice listing new and draft NEN/EN/ISO standards across water, environment, packaging, machinery, electrical installations and healthcare, many with public comment deadlines from late May to early August 2026. Companies operating in the Netherlands that rely on standards to demonstrate regulatory conformity should review the list, identify relevant drafts and new texts (especially on drinking water, workplace exposure, plastic packaging recyclability and hazardous equipment), and decide whether to align designs or submit comments within the specified deadlines.

22 May 2026, 19:01zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Rhode Island Committee Holds Plastic Waste Reduction Bill H8415 for Further Study

In May 2026, a Rhode Island House committee held the Plastic Waste Reduction Act bill (H8415) for further study, stalling a proposal to ban black plastic takeout containers used by restaurants and retailers. This pause reduces immediate regulatory pressure on existing packaging but signals ongoing scrutiny of single-use plastics and potential future restrictions in the state.

22 May 2026, 18:55webserver.rilegislature.govUnited States

Bulgaria Consults on Waste Management Act Amendments Introducing National Deposit System for Beverage Packaging

Bulgaria has consulted on draft amendments to its Waste Management Act that would establish a national deposit-return system for beverage packaging, aligned with the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. If adopted, this will force beverage and packaging producers and retailers to adapt collection, logistics and reporting systems to meet higher recycling targets under a central deposit operator, with material implications for packaging design and investment planning.

22 May 2026, 18:54strategy.bgBulgaria

France: President Macron Calls for Consultations on Deposit-Return to Meet 2030 Recycling Target

On 19 May 2026, President Emmanuel Macron signalled a new push to strengthen France’s circular-economy policy, instructing the Government to launch consultations on deposit-return schemes and other measures to meet a 2030 recycling target. This increases the likelihood of tighter reuse, recycling and extended producer-responsibility obligations for plastics and packaging value chains in France over the coming years, so companies should watch closely for forthcoming ministry consultations and possible revisions to waste and EPR rules.

22 May 2026, 16:49vie-publique.frFranceEuropean Union

CalRecycle Issues PEPRS Registration Guidance for SB 54 Producers

In May 2026 CalRecycle published detailed PEPRS registration and application guidance for SB 54 packaging producers and surfaced it prominently on its Producer Guidance page ahead of the 1 June 2026 registration deadline. Producers now have concrete instructions on WebPass setup, PEPRS registration and small‑producer or independent producer applications, and should quickly align internal data, documentation and governance to complete filings on time.

22 May 2026, 16:45www2.calrecycle.ca.govUnited States

European DIY Retail Association Seeks 16-Month Delay To EU Packaging And Packaging Waste Regulation Application Date

The European DIY Retail Association has written to the European Commission urging a 16-month postponement of the 12 August 2026 application date of the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation because core guidance, standards and EPR rules remain incomplete. If the Commission responds, companies could gain more time and clarity on transport packaging obligations, declarations of conformity, dangerous-substance minimisation and producer responsibility classifications, directly affecting packaging design choices, data systems and cross-border cost planning.

21 May 2026, 11:07media.licdn.comEuropean Union

Colorado Legislature Sends SB26-146 Single-Use Food Serviceware Bill to Governor

Colorado has passed SB26-146 and sent it to the Governor; if enacted, the bill will introduce statewide “ask-first” rules for single-use food serviceware with most take-out and delivery orders from January 2027. Food retailers and delivery platforms operating in Colorado should begin redesigning ordering systems, packaging practices, and inventories to minimise default single-use items and align with the expanded Plastic Pollution Reduction Act requirements.

21 May 2026, 06:53leg.colorado.govUnited States

Vermont Senate Finance Committee Advances Beverage-Container EPR Bill H.915

Vermont’s Senate Finance Committee has advanced House Bill H.915, a major overhaul of the state’s beverage-container “bottle bill” that would create an extended producer responsibility program and move the measure closer to final Senate passage. If enacted, beverage manufacturers and distributors will face mandatory participation in a producer responsibility organisation, new labelling and reporting duties, and phased deadlines from 2027 onward that require planning for redemption infrastructure, data systems, and funding of collection and recycling.

21 May 2026, 06:52legislature.vermont.govUnited States

Chile (Valparaíso) Reports Advanced Implementation of REP Recycling Law and Highlights New Decree for Batteries and EEE

Chile’s environmental authorities in Valparaíso report advanced implementation of the national extended producer responsibility recycling law, with growing municipal coverage for packaging, selective household collection, and inclusive recycling schemes. The communication also highlights the new national decree for batteries and electrical and electronic equipment, signalling accelerating REP obligations for producers and municipalities as Chile expands its circular economy and waste management framework.

21 May 2026, 06:36mma.gob.clChile

Connecticut Enacts Public Act 26-148 on Bottle Bill Fraud and Handling Fees

Connecticut has enacted Public Act 26-148 (SB 457) to tighten its bottle bill by criminalising large-scale redemption of out-of-state beverage containers and time-limiting a reduced handling fee for certain high-volume redemption centres from 2026. These changes increase fraud enforcement risk and alter cost structures for beverage distributors, dealers, and redemption operators, who should review their redemption controls, contracts, and data systems ahead of the October 2026 effective date.

20 May 2026, 19:58cga.ct.govUnited States

UK DEFRA Updates Supplementary Guidance for Packaging EPR Summary Log Templates

DEFRA has updated its supplementary guidance for the UK packaging Extended Producer Responsibility summary log templates, clarifying how reprocessors and exporters should record unrecycled waste, overseas shipments and Basel export codes from May 2026. Reprocessors and exporters should review the revised field descriptions and adjust their data-entry procedures and systems to minimise misreporting and demonstrate ongoing compliance with packaging EPR reporting obligations.

20 May 2026, 19:52gov.ukUnited Kingdom