EPR Fees by Country: A Complete Comparison for 2026

EPR Fee Landscape in 2026

One of the most common questions from e-commerce sellers: "How much will EPR compliance actually cost?" The answer depends on your product mix, packaging materials, sales volumes, and which countries you sell in. There's no single price — but there are clear patterns.

Here's a country-by-country breakdown of EPR fee structures for 2026.

Germany — LUCID + Dual System

Germany separates registration (free, via the ZSVR's LUCID portal) from the payment obligation (paid to a dual-system PRO of your choice).

*Cost drivers:*

• Material type (plastic costs more than paper/cardboard)
• Volume (kg per material per year)
• Your chosen dual system (pricing varies between providers)

*Typical annual cost for a small e-commerce seller (50–200 kg packaging, mixed materials): €100–€800/year*

For WEEE: Stiftung EAR registration fees apply (~€100–€200 per brand/category), plus the cost of an insolvency guarantee.

For batteries: Stiftung EAR registration (~€100–€200).

France — Eco-Organisme Contributions

France uses eco-modulated tariffs managed by eco-organismes. The fee is typically a flat annual contribution for small volumes plus a variable per-unit or per-kg rate.

*Packaging (Citeo):*

• Fixed annual contribution: ~€80 for <10,000 units/year
• Variable rate per unit: ~€0.002–€0.02 depending on material and recyclability
• Eco-modulation: bonus for recyclable packaging, penalty for non-recyclable

*Typical annual packaging cost, small seller: €150–€600/year*

*Textiles (Refashion):*

• Flat annual contribution: ~€50
• Per-item fee: ~€0.01–€0.05 depending on category

*WEEE (Ecosystem/Ecologic):*

• Per-unit fee: varies by category (small appliances cheaper than large appliances)

Italy — CONAI CAC

CONAI's Contributo Ambientale CONAI (CAC) is a per-kg fee that varies by material:

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*Declaration thresholds:*

• Annual CAC ≤ €3,000 → Annual declaration
• €3,001–€31,000 → Quarterly
• > €31,000 → Monthly

*Typical annual cost, small seller: €50–€300/year*

Spain — Ecoembes + Punto Verde

Spain's Ecoembes system charges by material and weight. The Punto Verde (Green Dot) licence is mandatory.

• Paper/cardboard: ~€0.012/kg
• Plastic: ~€0.30–€0.40/kg (varies by recyclability)
• Glass: ~€0.008/kg
• Metals: ~€0.020/kg

*Typical annual cost, small seller: €100–€500/year*

Netherlands — Afvalfonds Verpakkingen

The Netherlands uses a collective system through Afvalfonds Verpakkingen:

• Fixed contribution: ~€200/year for <50,000 kg
• Per-kg rates vary by material
• Reporting: annual with quarterly updates

Belgium — Fost Plus / Valipac

Belgium separates household packaging (Fost Plus) from commercial/industrial packaging (Valipac):

• Fost Plus: ~€0.10–€0.25/kg for household packaging
• Valipac: ~€0.01–€0.03/kg for commercial packaging
• Administrative fee: ~€100–€250/year

Austria — ARA

Austria's ARA system charges per material per kg:

• Plastic: ~€0.50–€0.60/kg
• Paper/cardboard: ~€0.05/kg
• Glass: ~€0.03/kg
• Composite materials: ~€0.60–€0.80/kg

Austria has one of the higher per-kg rates for plastic packaging. Small-volume sellers (<1,500 kg/year total) may be eligible for simplified declaration.

Poland — Multiple PROs

Poland operates a competitive PRO market with multiple providers:

• Per-kg rates typically €0.01–€0.05/kg across materials
• Minimum fee: ~€50–€100/year
• WEEE: separate registration and fees (~€50–€200/year)

Cost Comparison at a Glance

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Ranges are estimates for a small e-commerce seller with 50–500 kg of mixed packaging annually. Actual costs depend on your exact materials, volumes, and chosen compliance providers.

What About WEEE and Batteries?

EPR for electronics (WEEE) and batteries is additional to packaging. WEEE registration fees, AR fees, and per-unit take-back contributions add another €200–€2,000+/year depending on your product categories and volumes.

How to Budget for EPR

1. Start with your biggest markets — Germany, France, Italy, and Spain cover 70%+ of EU e-commerce 2. Estimate packaging weight per SKU — weigh your product + packaging 3. Multiply by monthly volume — get a rough kg/month figure 4. Check material composition — plastic costs more everywhere 5. Add WEEE + batteries if you sell electronics 6. Budget ~€500–€1,500/year as a starting point for a small seller in 2–4 countries

DutyScope's cost estimation feature shows you what EPR compliance will cost across all your countries and streams — before you register. Try it free →