Understand the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM)

Introduction

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) introduces new costs for large producers, with waste management fees applied to packaging classified as household or commonly disposed of in public bins.

Initially a flat base fee is applied per material type and from 2026 fees will be modulated based on recyclability, encouraging the use of packaging with lower environmental impact.

To enable this modulation, any household or publicly binned packaging supplied from 1 January 2025 must be assessed using the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM).

What is the RAM?

The RAM is a structured set of questions that evaluates how well packaging can be recycled at each stage of the recycling process—collection, sorting, reprocessing, and recyclate application.

To complete the RAM, you’ll need extra details about your packaging, such as whether it contains specific inks, adhesives, additives, or barrier layers. Each component is then given a Red, Amber, or Green (RAG) rating based on its recyclability.

From 2026, these RAG ratings will determine how your waste management fees are calculated - easy to recycle packaging will attract lower fees, while harder to recycle materials will cost more.

Who is impacted by the RAM?

Only large producers supplying packaging likely to become household or publicly binned waste must report its recyclability using the RAM.

When does the RAM apply?

From 1 January 2025, large producers must apply the RAM to all household or publicly binned packaging they place on the market. The resulting waste management fees (WMF) will be invoiced the following year.

The RAM will be updated annually to reflect changes in UK packaging and recycling infrastructure.

How does the RAM assess and classify packaging?

The material categories used in the RAM are:

Paper and board
Fibre-based composite materials (separated into liquid and non-liquid containers)
Plastic (flexible)
Plastic (rigid)
Steel
Aluminium
Glass
Wood
Other

Each packaging material category is assessed for the stages of collection, sortation, reprocessing and application. Please refer to the full RAM here for further material details and assessment criteria.

When packaging is assessed via the RAM, it is assigned a final RAG output depending on its recyclability:

Red indicates the packaging is not recyclable at scale in the UK
Amber suggests that there are challenges in collection, sorting, or reprocessing of the packaging
Green indicates the packaging is widely recycled in the UK

If packaging is rated Red or Amber at any stage of the RAM assessment, it must be reported as Red or Amber - even if other stages are Green. The final rating is always the highest level reached: Red is highest, Amber is next, and Green is lowest.

Exemptions

Reused packaging, unless it has been imported into the UK, and packaging that is exported are exempt from the RAM.

Drinks containers in scope of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) (PET, steel or aluminium containers 150ml - 3l) do not need to be assessed against the RAM.

Automatic red classification

Some packaging components are automatically classified as red and must be reported as such if they contain any of the following:

Integrated electrical components or batteries
Substances of very high concern (SVHC) under the UK REACH regulations
Inks that are manufactured in compliance with the Exclusion Policy for Printing Inks and Related Products (EuPIA)
Intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), other than to steel, aluminium or glass packaging.

How are results of the RAM reported?

The RAG outputs of the RAM are reported in the same file used to submit your main EPR data, via the report packaging data (RPD) online service.

RAM assessment stages

The detail of each RAM stage is explained in the sections that follow:

1. Classification

This stage defines how to assess whole packaging units and components against the RAM:

Packaging items separated during product use that cannot be reassembled - assess and report separately (e.g. tear off strips, wine bottle corks).
Multi-material packaging constructed of assembled components of different materials that can be separated by hand - assess each component separately.
Multi-material packaging with inseparable components - assess under the predominant material by weight, but continue to report each material separately under the main EPR submissions with the RAM output assigned to each material. If the different materials are of equal weight, assess the components separately under the relevant material categories.
Materials or whole units of packaging that are not listed under one of the material categories - assess under the ‘other’ packaging classification.

2. Collection

This stage is defines the main route to recycling for a given product. There are one of three RAM classification options:

Widely collected (via kerbside): the packaging or components must be collected at kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities, as determined by WRAP’s local authority data.
Limited collection (via kerbside): the packaging or components are collected by 50-74% of local authorities for recycling, as determined by WRAP’s local authority data.
Take-back schemes: dedicated take-back schemes offer a way to recapture materials and packaging types that are not included in kerbside collections.

For take-back schemes, obligated producers must confirm that it:

Is accessible to at least 75% of the UK population
Does not conflict with local authority kerbside collections
Is not restricted to one brand or product
Does not require a purchase to be made before an item can be disposed of
Has full transparency that the collected material is recycled

A more detailed criteria for takeback schemes is available here on gov.uk.

3. Sortation

This stage defines the process of diverting packaging waste into appropriate waste streams for further reprocessing. The RAM is concerned with the ability to sort waste at scale within material recovery facilities.

4. Reprocessing

This stage defines the technical process of creating recyclate from each of the packaging waste streams.

5. Application

This stage defines any factors which may affect the quality of recyclate produced or cause unnecessary secondary material loss in the recycling process.

Use the RAM component checker tool

Ecosurety members can use our RAM component checker tool for individual packaging components, to identify the RAM output required for your EPR data submission. Find out more in our article Understand the RAM component checker.

Understand RAM outputs for specific packaging materials

We have other material-specific RAM articles you may find useful, including:

How we can help

We provide flexible RAM support, including assessing your packaging and submitting your data for the packaging EPR regulations. We can also support you to identify where you can increase packaging recyclability, or reduce and remove packaging entirely.

External resources

Recyclability assessment methodology: How to assess your packaging waste on gov.uk