Should I Register With Fibre Circle?
The deadline for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) registrations is 5 November 2021 and many companies are not sure whether they should register with Fibre Circle to remain EPR compliant.
As the registered producer responsibility organisation (PRO) for the South African paper and paper packaging sector, Fibre Circle has elected to collect EPR fees from registered companies. These fees are based on tonnages manufactured locally or imported into South Africa – whether as primary product packaging or secondary transit packaging.
The regulations define a producer as ‘any person or category of persons, including a brand owner, who is engaged in the commercial manufacture, conversion, refurbishment (where applicable) or import of new or used identified products’.
The identified paper products are as follows:
- Newspaper/newsprint
- Magazines
- Office and graphic paper
- Corrugated cases and kraft paper
- Liquid board packaging
- Label backing paper
- Paper sacks
To register with Fibre Circle, you must be:
- A “producer” (with respect to paper & paper packaging) – as a paper manufacturer or importer – and manufacture and/or import more than 10 tonnes of paper or paper packaging per annum
- A company that imports products contained in primary or secondary paper packaging (more than 10 tonnes per annum)
- An entity in the value chain that significantly changes the composition of paper and paper packaging to such an extent that the conversion process makes the product more difficult to collect and/or recycle.
If your business fits within the above criteria, then you can register with Fibre Circle by contacting us.
Three simple steps to ensuring EPR compliance:
- Find out if your company is a producer in the paper and paper packaging sector.
- If you manufacture or import more than 10 tonnes per annum of any of the identified paper products, you need to register with DFFE and with Fibre Circle.
- Register on http://sawic.environment.gov.za/epr/
- DFFE will issue you with a registration number.
- Register with Fibre Circle on fibrecircle.co.za/signmeup
- Once approved, Fibre Circle will send you a confirmation of registration and a certificate.
What must I do if we are not required to register?
You must ensure that you deal with EPR compliant suppliers to avoid trading illegally.
EPR compliant suppliers must be able to provide you with certificated proof of their compliance and you will be required (by law) to pay them the EPR fees (as per their invoice to you). Furthermore, you may also charge the same down to your customers. Your business will therefore be indirectly involved within the EPR regulations and be compliant as required by law.
