Many companies in the Netherlands are still not well informed about their obligations under the extended producer responsibility (EPR). This is evident from additional actions by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), which visited more than 260 companies during an inspection week. The inspectorate will again visit companies this year to raise awareness of the EPR rules.
Extended producer responsibility systems have existed for several years for packaging, car wrecks, and electronic equipment. In recent years, the number of EPRs has grown significantly. There are also EPRs for textiles and for batteries and accumulators.
Annual supervision
The ILT collects information about EPR systems throughout the year and actively contacts producer organizations. The ILT also checks whether companies comply with collection and recycling obligations. There is an enforcement process with Stichting Verpact for not meeting the collection standard for plastic bottles and intensified supervision has been imposed on Stichting Open for not meeting the collection standard for electronic and electrical waste.
Last year, the inspectorate conducted additional inspections at companies regarding textiles and bicycle batteries to find out whether entrepreneurs are familiar with the rules and to inform them about their obligations.
Many textile companies and bike repairers unaware of rules
During the inspection week, the ILT checked 125 bike repairers working with bicycle batteries. Only a small percentage were well aware of the EPR regulations and hazardous waste management. Only 10% indicated that they handed over batteries to the producer organization. There was also much ignorance among clothing stores and textile companies. More than 135 textile companies were visited. In over 80% of the companies where someone spoke about EPR textiles, the EPR textile was unknown. Many did not know that as a producer or importer of textiles, you must register with Rijkswaterstaat.
Many companies still lack sufficient knowledge of the rules for collection and recycling of their products. We want to encourage companies to take action if necessary. The number of companies unaware of the EPR rules surprised us, because there is an obligation to collect and recycle products. You can do this yourself or through a producer organization. In any case, you must register, explains an inspector.
Next steps by the inspectorate
The ILT has shared its findings from the inspection week with industry associations and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, expecting that companies will become more aware of their obligations.
- In 2026, the ILT will continue to monitor compliance with EPR rules. It will organize another inspection week. This time, it may not only inspect textile companies and bike repairers. Other sectors subject to EPR may also expect inspections. Companies can prepare by reviewing what they need to do to comply with EPR. The ILT issues warnings where necessary and monitors whether companies take follow-up steps.
- Specifically for EPR Textiles, the ILT has sent letters to companies that have not yet registered with Rijkswaterstaat. The ILT points them to the regulations. By July 31, 2026, producers and importers of textiles must report on reuse and recycling for the previous year (2025).
- The inspectorate also focuses its supervision on refurbishers. This is a rapidly growing sector where in many cases a new battery is made from an old battery. Refurbishers are therefore responsible as producers of a new battery for the quality and safety of their product.