Ireland
Ireland pairs one national register with a scheme for each stream, and it added a beverage deposit in 2024. Irish EPR compliance means joining the compliance scheme your products fall under, registering in PRL for electronics, batteries and tyres, and reporting through them, across eight streams with producer duties.
Self-compliance is no longer an option for the big streams. Major packaging producers have had to join a scheme since the start of 2023.
The streams and their schemes
Eight streams carry producer duties today. Packaging runs through Repak, electronics through WEEE Ireland or ERP Ireland, vehicles through ELVES and farm plastics through the Irish Farm Film Producers Group.
Tyres run through Circol ELT. Its published charges cover car, van, 4x4 and motorcycle tyres, and the government has announced an extension to every other tyre category.
The newest duties are litter-driven. Tobacco filters have carried EPR since January 2023, and wet wipes, balloons and plastic fishing gear since the end of 2024. Fishing gear runs through Haul It Back, first approved on an interim basis, while no scheme has been approved yet for wet wipes and balloons.
Registering with PRL
Producers of electronics, batteries and tyres register in PRL, the national producer register. For electronics and batteries the scheme comes first, because the PRL application asks for your scheme membership. Packaging has no PRL registration: it is membership of Repak.
Foreign sellers cannot skip the local step. A distance seller into Ireland appoints an Irish-established authorised representative by written mandate for the electronics and battery streams. Since 12 August 2026 the EU packaging regulation (PPWR) adds the same duty for packaged goods sold directly to Irish end users.
The deposit return scheme
Beverage containers carry a deposit under Re-turn, which went live on 1 February 2024. It is a separate system from packaging EPR.
Both schemes hit a drinks producer at once. In-scope containers go through Re-turn, and the rest of the producer's packaging still runs through Repak.
What changes next
The calendar runs from packaging to textiles:
- Since 12 August 2026: the EU packaging regulation (PPWR) applies directly in Ireland.
- End of 2026: Repak stops offering its authorised representative service for electronics and batteries.
- Around April 2028: a textile and footwear EPR scheme must be in place, with an Irish roadmap in development.
Frequently asked questions about EPR in Ireland
Quick answers to what comes up most often.
What is EPR in Ireland?
Producer responsibility across eight streams, with producers joining approved schemes like Repak, WEEE Ireland and Circol ELT, and registering in PRL for electronics, batteries and tyres.
What is the Irish EPR register?
Producer Register Ltd, known as PRL, the national register for producers of electronics, batteries and tyres. Packaging has no PRL registration: it is membership of Repak.
Is the deposit the same as packaging EPR?
No. The Re-turn deposit on beverage containers is a separate return system, live since February 2024. A drinks producer deals with both schemes, in-scope containers through Re-turn and other packaging through Repak.
Do foreign sellers need an Irish representative?
Yes for electronics and batteries. A distance seller into Ireland appoints an Irish-established authorised representative by written mandate.
Does Ireland have textile EPR yet?
Not yet. A scheme is required by around April 2028 under the revised EU waste directive, with an Irish roadmap and consultation in development.