EPR Fee Explained
The Extended Producer Responsibility fee is a statutory environmental levy payable by Producers placing regulated products on the South African market. The fee is calculated in accordance with the EPR Regulations and is designed to fund the collection, recycling and environmentally sound management of products at end of life.
Circular Energy submits its fee structure to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for review and concurrence, and the approved fee schedule is publicly available on our website.
How the EPR Fee
is calculated
The EPR fee is determined using regulatory guidelines and industry-specific cost modelling. It takes into account:
Administration costs are limited in terms of the regulations and include salaries,
overhead expenses such as rent and utilities, and information technology
and system costs over the prescribed regulatory period.
What the EPR Fee Funds
The EPR fee ensures that regulated products are responsibly managed once they reach end of life. The funds collected are used to establish and maintain nationwide take back and collection systems, support recycling and recovery infrastructure, and ensure the compliant handling, transport and treatment of waste. The fee also contributes to regulatory monitoring and reporting to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, as well as industry awareness, education initiatives and broader environmental impact reduction programmes that support South Africa’s circular economy objectives.
Waste Streams Covered
The EPR fee applies to regulated products placed on the South African market within defined electrical and electronic equipment categories. These include wind energy electrical and electronic equipment such as masts, blades and related components; solar energy equipment including inverters, wiring, transformers and associated systems; energy storage batteries and their electronic components; electric and hybrid vehicle batteries and related systems; as well as other electrical and electronic generation equipment and additional regulated electrical and electronic products as prescribed under the EPR Regulations.
