This is how responsibility is distributed in the packaging ordinance
In the role of producer responsibility organization, our operations are based on the ordinance on producer responsibility for packaging. As of 1 January 2024, the municipalities in Sweden are responsible for collecting packaging waste from households.
The purpose of the ordinance
The main purpose of the packaging ordinance is to:
- reduce the amount of packaging and packaging waste
- producers must take responsibility for collecting and treating packaging waste – operationally or financially
- achieve the goals for material recycling
- reduce litter
Several different actors need to contribute in order for the purpose of the ordinance to be achieved.
Your responsibility as a producer
All producers who release packaging on the Swedish market must be affiliated with an approved producer responsibility organization, PRO. The PRO finances the collection, reception and recycling of all packaging materials from households and businesses.
You who have producer responsibility must:
- pay for the municipal collection of packaging from households, the reception of packaging from businesses and the recycling of packaging.
- contribute to achieving the national targets for material recycling rates for packaging.
- only provide packaging that can be reused or recycled.
- register as a producer with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
- report packaging volumes, at least quarterly.
- report to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, once a year.
- report in accordance with the Single-Use Plastics Directive once a year.
Our responsibility as a producer responsibility organisation
On behalf of our affiliated producers, we are responsible for ensuring that their packaging of all types of materials (paper, plastic, metal, glass, wood and other materials such as textiles, porcelain and others) is recycled, provided that it is designed for recycling. We also ensure reporting to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency for all our affiliated producers.
We are responsible for:
- That packaging waste is treated in accordance with applicable regulations.
- Effectively contributing to achieving the material recycling targets and the targets for reduced littering in the Packaging Ordinance.
- Working to ensure that affiliated producers increase the proportion of reusable packaging placed on the market and otherwise prevent packaging waste.
- Replacing the municipal collection of household packaging through the packaging fees paid by our affiliated producers.
- Establishing reception sites for businesses’ packaging waste.
- Obtaining our share of collected material from Swedish municipalities.
Responsibility of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) runs and coordinates environmental work in Sweden, on behalf of the Swedish government. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s mission includes working based on the ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging. It is the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency that approves which producer responsibility organizations are allowed to collect and process packaging waste.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency must:
- Inform about producer responsibility.
- Exercise supervision and announce regulations, exceptions and exemptions.
- Decide on the compensation to the municipalities.
- Ensure that producer responsibility organisations, municipalities, market-driven systems, property owners and environmental organizations have an ongoing dialogue.
- Follow up the national recycling targets and report to the EU.
The municipalities' responsibility
Swedish municipalities are responsible for collecting packaging waste from households and co-located businesses. From 1 January 2027, curb side collection will be introduced for all households, for paper, plastic, glass and metal packaging. At the same time, municipalities must ensure that there are easily accessible collection points for bulky packaging. From 1 January 2026, municipalities are responsible for collecting packaging material in popular locations, such as squares and parks.
They must also provide transfer stations where producer responsibility organisations will pick up their share of the collected material for transport to reception facilities and recycling facilities.