Dansk 
Minister for the Environment Magnus Heunicke has announced that the government will cut the fees related to packaging producer responsibility. Several of the solutions proposed by Emballageretur have been included. Read on to get the full overview.
After months of debate, negotiations, and calls for political intervention, a decision has now been made on a series of changes designed to make producer responsibility both simpler – and cheaper – for Danish businesses.
The aim is to keep producer fees down and ensure they do not exceed the level originally set when the government, back in 2022, entered into the political agreement to implement the EU Packaging Directive on extended producer responsibility in Danish law.
For years, Emballageretur has actively worked to safeguard the interests of its members in creating a cost-effective producer responsibility scheme – including during the final stages of this process – and we welcome these changes.
The new framework not only brings financial relief for Danish companies but also provides clear confirmation that our long-standing expertise and professional arguments have been heard.
We are particularly pleased to see that several of the solutions we have proposed over the years in preparation for the implementation of producer responsibility are now part of the agreement.
Here is an overview of the changes.
MUNICIPALITIES MUST REDUCE THEIR FEES
The municipal costs for collecting packaging have been a major point in the debate – and are also one of the most central elements in the new political proposal.
The Ministry of Environment originally estimated that municipalities’ costs amounted to DKK 1.6 billion annually, out of a total of DKK 3.1 billion. Under the new proposal, municipalities may only charge the producer responsibility organisations DKK 1.2 billion – with a political ambition to reduce this further to DKK 1 billion.
This requirement is a confirmation that the criticism we have raised since 2023 is now being taken seriously, and that our members can look forward to lower costs.
At the same time, producer fees will be divided into instalments and temporarily reduced, with four instalments of DKK 250 million each to be collected before 1 October 2026, supplemented by an additional charge of up to DKK 200 million spread over a four-year period.
A COMMON CALCULATION MODEL FOR MUNICIPALITIES
Another key point of criticism has been the municipalities’ varying pricing for packaging collection. These price differences were partly due to the lack of common guidelines.
With the new framework, a common calculation model will now be developed.
This is yet another solution that Emballageretur has long advocated for, partly because we believe that a common pricing structure is an important element in creating a uniform service level across municipalities. We consider a common service level to be crucial in ensuring a fair solution.
We are therefore pleased that a shared guideline is now becoming a reality.
PREPAYMENT TO MUNICIPALITIES IS MAINTAINED
The prepayment to municipalities is maintained – fully in line with the intention of the law and our interpretation of it.
The prepayment ensures that the producer responsibility organisations can cover municipal collection costs from day one. Having this once again confirmed in the political framework is an important validation of the approach Emballageretur has taken by charging advance contributions.
By following this model, we have been able to shield our members from unnecessary financial uncertainty and deliver competitive prices.
The good news is that the new framework for municipal pricing means that the conditions for advance contributions will now change for the better for our members.
The exact details will be sent to all members in a separate information email.
THE PACKAGING LEVY IS BEING ABOLISHED
The government has decided to phase out the volume-based packaging tax in 2026 and 2027.
This means that an old tax will disappear at the same time as the new producer responsibility comes into effect. This helps ensure that the overall cost for businesses does not exceed the level set in the original 2022 political agreement.
In total, this will provide businesses with financial relief of up to DKK 250 million over the two years.
THE START OF PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT POSTPONED
The start date of 1 October will not be postponed.
Many businesses and stakeholders have asked for more time. Implementation is complex, and many new systems and processes need to be established. We fully understand this.
But producer responsibility has already been postponed twice. Further delay would only mean pushing the problems further ahead.
That is why we at Emballageretur welcome the government’s decision to stand firm on the start date. This provides the necessary clarity so all stakeholders can align with a single deadline.
The task now is to make the system work in practice and achieve the original goals of producer responsibility: reducing packaging waste and increasing recycling.
PUBLIC FEES TO BE REVISED
The administrative fees charged by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DPA will be revised.
OTHER CHANGES
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A study will be launched to examine how Denmark’s neighboring countries have structured their producer responsibility. The aim is to learn from countries that operate more cost-effectively.
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Action will be taken against free-riders – companies that have not registered and therefore do not pay their share of producer responsibility.
WHAT DOES THE CHANGES MEAN FOR OUR MEMBERS
For Emballageretur’s members, the consequence of these changes is clear: lower costs for producer responsibility.
Naturally, we welcome this.
The exact details will be sent to all members in a separate information email.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
The new framework represents important steps towards making producer responsibility more economically responsible, more transparent, and more fair.
Several of the solutions Emballageretur has been advocating since 2023 are now part of the agreement. This means better conditions for both our members and Danish businesses as a whole.
Now we can move forward. October 1st 2025 will mark the official starting point.
For us at Emballageretur, the task is clear: to ensure that our members enter the new system with confidence, efficiency, and maximum benefit.
