Nedvang and Extended Producers Responsibility for packaging

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a principle that holds manufacturers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including the packaging waste generated by their products. In the Netherlands, the implementation of EPR for packaging is carried out by a non-profit organization called Nedvang.

Nedvang is responsible for ensuring that producers and importers of packaging meet their EPR requirements. Nedvang facilitates and monitors the collection, sorting, and recycling of packaging waste, with the ultimate goal of reducing the environmental impact of packaging waste.

Producers and importers of packaging in the Netherlands pay fees that fund the collection and recycling of packaging waste. These fees are based on the weight and type of packaging put on the market by each producer or importer. Nedvang uses these funds to organize collection and sorting systems for packaging waste, as well as to promote the development of more sustainable packaging.

One of the key objectives of Nedvang is to increase the recycling rate of packaging waste in the Netherlands. To achieve this goal, the organization works closely with municipalities, waste management companies, and other stakeholders to develop effective collection and sorting systems.

Requirement for data and transparency

Nedvang monitors collecting, sorting and recycling of packaging waste. Waste management companies that trade or process Dutch packaging waste are legally required to provide data to Nedvang. This data includes information on the type and amount of packaging waste processed, as well as details on the origin and destination of the waste and yield of the recycling process. By providing this data, waste management companies help Nedvang to accurately assess the amount of packaging waste generated in the Netherlands and to track progress towards achieving recycling targets. Therefore, it is important for waste management companies to ensure that they are meeting their obligations under Dutch packaging waste legislation by providing accurate and timely data to Nedvang. These legal obligations are outlined in the ‘Packaging act’ (Besluit beheer verpakkingen).

Maintaining a transparent and reliable chain of information is critical for the processing of packaging waste. It is essential for all parties involved in the packaging waste value chain to provide accurate and timely data amount, origin, destination and yield of the recycling process. This information is necessary to ensure that packaging waste is properly sorted and recycled, reporting obligations are met and to prevent it from ending up in landfills or the environment.

Future legislation

Moreover, here is increasing pressure from European policymakers to improve transparency in the packaging waste value chain. In particular, there is a push to prohibit the export of packaging waste to non-OECD countries if sufficient transparency in the waste chain is not achieved. This means that if the parties involved in the packaging waste value chain fail to provide the necessary information on the waste generated and its handling, the export of packaging waste to certain countries may be prohibited. This policy is intended to prevent the export of waste to countries with inadequate recycling or waste management infrastructure, where the waste may end up polluting the environment or harming public health.

Therefore, it is important that all actors in the packaging waste value chain, including producers, importers, waste management companies and recycling facilities, work together to ensure that the necessary data is collected and shared transparently.

How to join Nedvang in the quest for transparency and accuracy

All companies active in the trade and recycling of packaging will receive a letter from Nedvang requesting them to cooperate in providing data. The process to arrive at the right data is summarized in 5 steps:

  • Step 1: Nedvang invites you with this registration form to register. You can fill in this form immediately.
  • Step 2: Reporting Agreement. If your registration has been received by Nedvang, Nedvang will contact you personally. Then Nedvang will discuss the aforementioned reporting agreement with you and Nedvang will ask you to sign it, including your company details.
  • Step 3: Supply data. Based on the regulations in the Regulations, Nedvang has developed a reporting method that describes which data is required. After signing the agreement you will receive a form to fill in. In this we ask you to state the loss per type of material as it occurs in your sorting and/or recycling process and to describe the way in which this data is determined within your company. This description should preferably be part of your quality system. This contributes to the substantiation of the data provided. Nedvang must complete its reporting by 1 June 2023, which means that your data must be available before 1 May 2023 at the latest.
  • Step 4: Data Verification. For the recognition of your company, Nedvang carries out a data verification on location. This is a verification of the quality of your company’s registration process and the data provided. The results will be shared with you and you will be asked to follow up on any findings.
  • Step 5: Recognition. if after the data verification it appears that the registration and the reporting process meet the quality requirements, then you meet the legal requirements and Nedvang recognizes your company. You will receive a certificate of recognition and a recognition logo. Recognition also leads to your name being listed on the list of recognized waste companies on the Nedvang website and the promised compensation.

If you have any questions, please contact us

Nedvang will assist you with filling in the requested data for 2022 or checking your previous data. If you have any questions about the required information, please contact us via nmp@nedvang.nl or +31 702 002 580.