Summary
Details
- The United Kingdom
The Recyclability Assessment Methodology is for large producers of household packaging in the UK to assess and report recyclability under EPR requirements.
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Background
The RAM was introduced to create a consistent, evidence-based approach to recyclability, addressing limitations in earlier systems where recyclability was often inferred from material type alone. Under the UK’s EPR framework, producers are financially responsible for the management of packaging waste. The RAM supports this by ensuring that fees reflect the actual recyclability of packaging in UK systems, rather than theoretical recyclability. By linking recyclability performance to cost, the methodology aims to improve recycling outcomes, reduce contamination in waste streams, and encourage packaging design aligned with UK infrastructure.
Assessment and reporting
The RAM requires producers to assess the recyclability of their packaging and report the results under the UK’s EPR framework. Producers must evaluate packaging across the full end-of-life pathway, reflecting how materials are handled in practice within UK systems. The methodology is structured around five sequential stages:
Classification – identifying materials and components, including how multi-material packaging is assessed
Collection – whether the packaging is widely collected by UK local authorities
Sortation – whether it can be effectively separated at scale
Reprocessing – whether it can be recycled without technical or quality issues
Application – whether the recyclate can be used in new products
Based on performance across these stages, packaging is assigned a traffic-light rating:
Green: widely recyclable in practice
Amber: recyclable with limitations
Red: not recyclable in current systems
This rating must be reported to regulators and is used to determine modulated EPR fees, with less recyclable packaging incurring higher costs.
From 1 January 2025, large (“liable”) producers are required to:
assess the recyclability of all relevant household packaging using RAM
report the results as part of their EPR data submissions
The requirement applies to packaging likely to enter household waste streams, including items disposed of in public bins.
Current status
The RAM is an active and evolving regulatory methodology. Version 1.1 was published in April 2025, incorporating simplifications based on industry feedback to improve usability. The methodology is updated annually, with revisions aligned to EPR reporting cycles and informed by changes in recycling infrastructure and stakeholder input. As EPR fee modulation becomes fully operational from 2026, the RAM is expected to play a central role in shaping packaging design decisions and cost structures across the UK market.
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