Consultation on proposals for reform to the Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN) system

The PRN/PERN system was introduced under the 1997 Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations as a way for producers to demonstrate that they have met their statutory recycling obligations each year, and to fund investment in recycling, by obtaining evidence notes. These evidence notes, called Packaging Waste Recycling Notes (PRNs) and Packaging Waste Export Recycling Notes (PERNs), are issued by accredited reprocessors or exporters for each tonne of eligible packaging waste recycled. Following consultations in 2021 and 2022, reforms to the PRN system were introduced from 1 January 2026. While these measures will deliver important progress, we recognise that there is more to do. We are therefore consulting on a further package of measures that have been codesigned with industry experts, and we are planning a further consultation which will seek views on potent