Set up return and separate collection covering the whole territory and all packaging waste, open to operators, authorities and third parties and to imported products on non-discriminatory terms; collect design-for-recycling-compliant packaging for recycling and prohibit its incineration and landfill.
Member States must comply, and this is law in force.
Why it matters
This is law in force, not a proposal.
- It is Arts. 48(1) and (5), in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. as of 2026-08-18
- The act gives its timing as: From 12 August 2026 (Art. 71). as of 2026-08-18
- It names one industry by name: Waste. as of 2026-08-18
- Compliance is checked by reporting to the Commission under Art. 56, continuous. as of 2026-08-18
What changes
The material change is the landfill and incineration ban on recyclable packaging, which has no equivalent in the directive, plus the shift from 'return and/or collection' to mandatory separate collection. Art. 48(3) allows derogations for formats where co-collection does not damage output quality.
Prior rule vs new rule
used packaging and packaging waste from consumers and other final users
Member States had to ensure systems were set up for the return and/or collection of used packaging and packaging waste in order to channel it to the most appropriate waste management alternative, and for its reuse or recovery including recycling. Collection did not have to be separate.
all packaging waste from end users
Return and SEPARATE collection of all packaging waste, covering the whole territory including public spaces, business premises and residential areas, with an outright prohibition on incinerating or landfilling packaging that meets the design-for-recycling criteria.
Who is affected
Burden drivers
Binds a Member State, not a company by size.
Source text
Member States shall ensure that systems and infrastructures are set up to provide for the return and separate collection of all packaging waste from the end users, in order to ensure that it is treated in accordance with Articles 4, 10 and 13 of Directive 2008/98/EC, and to facilitate its preparation for re-use and high-quality recycling. Packaging that complies with design for recycling criteria as established in delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 6(4) of this Regulation shall be collected for recycling. Incineration and landfill of such packaging shall be prohibited, with the exception of waste resulting from subsequent treatment operations of separately collected packaging waste for which recycling is not feasible or does not deliver the best environmental outcome.
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