Bulgaria Packaging EPR Fees 2026: Costs and Rules

What does packaging EPR compliance cost in Bulgaria in 2026?

For many businesses, the principal recurring expense is a contribution paid to a licensed packaging recovery organisation. Published 2026 tariffs from ECO PARTNERS Bulgaria start at €0.045/kg for certain materials, while ECOPACK Bulgaria publishes different base rates and a minimum annual contribution.

However, these commercial charges must not be confused with Bulgaria's statutory product fee, which applies under different compliance conditions and is generally substantially higher.

There is no single universal EPR price for all packaging placed on the Bulgarian market. Actual costs depend on material, weight, the chosen compliance route, the recovery organisation's tariff, and the company's reporting and payment performance.

Important: Joining a recovery organisation does not automatically make every other obligation disappear. Accurate declarations, contractual payments, registration, and evidence of compliance remain essential.

Bulgaria's packaging EPR framework operates under the Waste Management Act and the Ordinance on Packaging and Packaging Waste.

Businesses placing packaged goods on the Bulgarian market are responsible for the management of the packaging waste generated after those goods are used.

They can generally meet the relevant collection and recovery obligations through:

1. Collective compliance: Participation in a licensed packaging recovery organisation, which coordinates the recovery and recycling system and charges producer contributions.

2. Individual compliance: Operating an appropriately authorized individual system and demonstrating fulfilment of the applicable legal targets.

The statutory product-fee mechanism applies where the legal conditions for exemption through compliant collective or individual arrangements are not satisfied.

For a broader explanation of the national requirements, see ComplyMarket's Bulgaria Packaging EPR Compliance and Registration Services.

The main question is which legal entity first places the packaged goods on the Bulgarian market.

Depending on the transaction, responsible businesses may include:

•  Bulgarian manufacturers placing packaged products on the domestic market.

•  Importers bringing packaged products into Bulgaria from outside the EU.

•  Businesses introducing packaged goods from another EU Member State.

•  Brand owners and distributors acting as the first market placer.

•  Retailers using packaging to pack products at the point of sale.

•  Foreign e-commerce businesses supplying Bulgarian customers.

Responsibility should be established using the actual supply chain, including invoices, import arrangements, legal entities, and sales channels.

A retailer reselling products already placed on the Bulgarian market by another compliant producer may not have the same obligation for the original packaging. However, packaging added by that retailer may create separate responsibilities.

There is no general packaging EPR exemption simply because a business sells small quantities. A recovery organisation's volume-based discount threshold is not the same as a statutory registration threshold.

Bulgarian packaging requirements cover materials used to contain, protect, handle, deliver, or present goods.

Relevant packaging includes:

Material classifications include plastics, paper and cardboard, glass, steel and other metals, aluminium, wood, composites, textiles, and other materials.

Consumer, commercial, and industrial packaging must be assessed according to the applicable legal definitions. A business should not exclude transport packaging simply because it does not reach a household consumer.

Correctly identifying each packaging component is essential because different material categories can attract different recovery fees.

Article 74 of Bulgaria's Packaging and Packaging Waste Ordinance requires businesses placing packaged goods on the market to request entry in the public register under Article 45(1)(13) of the Waste Management Act.

Registration information is submitted to the Environmental Executive Agency (ExEA/ИАОС) through the National Waste Information System (NISO/НИСО).

The ordinance requires the relevant information to be submitted during the one-month period before the activity begins.

Information includes the company's identification number, business details, contact information, packaging materials, sales method, and whether it fulfils its obligations individually or collectively.

Changes in registered information must generally be notified within one month. Businesses discontinuing the activity must also request removal from the register.

Is packaging EPR registration free in Bulgaria?

The standard packaging-producer register entry has no separately published government registration fee in the sources reviewed. It can therefore be treated as a free government entry for initial budgeting purposes.

That does not mean compliance itself is free. Electronic-signature arrangements, local administrative assistance, representation, and recovery-organisation membership may generate separate costs.

Foreign businesses should confirm the accepted filing arrangements with ExEA or their recovery organisation before making their first relevant sales.

Bulgaria has several licensed packaging recovery organisations.

The Ministry of Environment and Water maintains information on authorized operators, including:

•  ECOPACK Bulgaria

•  ECO PARTNERS Bulgaria

•  ECOBULPACK Bulgaria

•  BULECOPACK

Each organisation has its own contractual arrangements and commercial contribution policy.

Collective participation is a common business route, but individual compliance is legally possible when the required authorization and operational conditions are met.

A producer should compare more than the €/kg tariff. Contractual terms, the types of packaging accepted, reporting procedures, minimum contributions, payment conditions, and evidence requirements may affect the overall cost.

Two recovery organisations publish identifiable 2026 material-based tariffs.

The following comparison uses the undiscounted commercial rates published by each provider.

All displayed prices are in euros per kilogram and exclude VAT. ECOPACK's published base tariffs took effect on 1 January 2026.

These are commercial, provider-specific prices—not a statutory national tariff. Other licensed organisations may charge different amounts.

ECOPACK discounts and minimum fees

ECOPACK's 2026 policy provides a 10% discount for timely reporting by the 15th of the following month and an additional 20% discount under its policy for payment by the 25th.

The published discounted rates apply only to companies reporting more than 10 tonnes annually.

ECOPACK also specifies a minimum annual contribution of €80, excluding VAT, per obligated company.

Companies reporting smaller amounts should not automatically apply the discount columns when calculating their budgets.

Are there additional recovery costs?

The published tariff establishes the provider's stated contribution basis, but additional commercial services may be quoted separately.

Businesses should confirm whether their agreement covers registration assistance, data corrections, reporting support, and any exceptional collection or handling arrangements.

Do not assume that the lowest published material tariff necessarily represents the lowest overall contractual cost.

Bulgaria also has an official product-fee schedule established under the Ordinance Determining the Procedure and Amount of Product Fees.

This schedule is different from the prices charged by recovery organisations.

Under the legislation, businesses participating in a compliant collective arrangement or fulfilling their obligations individually can avoid the corresponding product fee when the necessary legal conditions and evidence are satisfied. Special rules apply to certain plastic shopping bags.

Where the product fee becomes payable, its amount depends on the packaging material and weight.

Statutory packaging product-fee rates

The consolidated legal appendix expresses these amounts in Bulgarian lev. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, at the fixed conversion rate of €1 = BGN 1.95583.

The BGN figures reproduce the legislation's material rates; the euro figures are rounded mathematical conversions, not a separately published replacement tariff.

These statutory rates must not be added automatically to a compliant producer's PRO contribution. Whether the product fee is payable depends on the producer's actual legal compliance position.

The Ministry publishes decisions identifying producers that must or need not pay the product fee for particular compliance years. Decisions issued in May 2026 concerning 2024 obligations illustrate this enforcement process; they are not new 2026 tariffs.

For a recovery organisation using a material-weight tariff, the basic calculation is:

Packaging weight in kilograms × applicable provider rate = material contribution

Calculate each material separately and add the amounts together.

Worked 2026 example

Consider a company placing the following packaging on the Bulgarian market during the year and using ECO PARTNERS' published 2026 tariffs.

The calculated material contribution is €142.05, excluding VAT.

Using ECOPACK's published undiscounted 2026 rates for the same quantities would produce a material-based calculation of €204.00, excluding VAT.

This illustrates why recovery-organisation selection affects budgeting.

The example is illustrative, not an individual quotation. It excludes any additional contractual services, adjustments, or other applicable charges. It also assumes the company is eligible for the relevant collective compliance arrangement.

Two businesses with similar sales revenue may have very different packaging compliance costs.

The main reasons include material composition, total packaging weight, the proportions of primary and transport packaging, the selected recovery organisation, and contractual conditions.

For example, plastic beverage bottles may have a separate tariff from other plastic packaging. Paperboard and glass also attract different material rates.

Reporting accuracy matters financially. Overstated packaging weights can inflate contributions, while understated quantities can produce corrections, contractual disputes, or regulatory exposure.

For reliable calculations, businesses should maintain SKU-level packaging bills of materials, weights for each material component, and Bulgaria-specific sales quantities.

Cross-border businesses must assess both Bulgarian law and the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Regulation (EU) 2025/40.

The PPWR generally became applicable on 12 August 2026.

Under Article 45(3), producers falling within the specified cross-border categories in Article 3(1)(15)(c) and (d) must appoint an EPR authorized representative by written mandate in relevant Member States where they first make packaging or packaged products available and are not established.

This requirement should not be interpreted as meaning that every foreign supplier or importer automatically needs a representative. The producer definition, sales model, establishment, and nature of the recipient must be assessed.

The European Commission has proposed changes concerning cross-border representative requirements for certain businesses, but the proposal should not be treated as enacted law until formally adopted.

How much does a representative cost?

No standardized Bulgarian government tariff for commercial EPR representation was verified.

The cost depends on the appointment's scope, the provider, the number of filings, and any additional administrative responsibilities.

A producer should obtain a written quotation and confirm who will handle registration, correspondence, reports, and supporting evidence.

Accurate material declarations are central to Bulgaria's packaging EPR system.

Businesses should maintain records of:

•  Packaging quantities placed on the Bulgarian market.

•  Packaging weights by material and applicable category.

•  Sales and import information supporting the reported quantities.

•  Recovery-organisation declarations and payments.

•  Correspondence, confirmations, and compliance evidence.

Reporting to a recovery organisation

Reporting frequency and payment dates depend on the agreement.

For example, ECOPACK's discount policy refers to reporting by the 15th of the following month and payment by the 25th. These are provider-specific commercial conditions, not deadlines that automatically apply to every producer or PRO.

Statutory product-fee declarations

Where the state product fee is payable, Article 16 of the product-fee ordinance requires monthly declarations covering the preceding month's quantities.

The declaration is prepared by the 15th of the following month, including a zero declaration where the applicable conditions require one.

The corresponding statutory product fee is payable under the ordinance's monthly payment rules.

These declarations must be retained for five years.

Annual reports and verification

Licensed recovery organisations and producers operating individual compliance systems have annual reporting and independent verification obligations.

Reports for the preceding calendar year are prepared by 20 March and submitted with the relevant factual-findings report by 31 March, as established in the packaging ordinance.

An ordinary recovery-organisation member should follow its contractual reporting procedures and should not assume it must independently submit the same audited system report as the organisation itself.

Accurate material declarations are central to Bulgaria's packaging EPR system.

Businesses should maintain records of:

•  Packaging quantities placed on the Bulgarian market.

•  Packaging weights by material and applicable category.

•  Sales and import information supporting the reported quantities.

•  Recovery-organisation declarations and payments.

•  Correspondence, confirmations, and compliance evidence.

Reporting to a recovery organisation

Reporting frequency and payment dates depend on the agreement.

For example, ECOPACK's discount policy refers to reporting by the 15th of the following month and payment by the 25th. These are provider-specific commercial conditions, not deadlines that automatically apply to every producer or PRO.

Statutory product-fee declarations

Where the state product fee is payable, Article 16 of the product-fee ordinance requires monthly declarations covering the preceding month's quantities.

The declaration is prepared by the 15th of the following month, including a zero declaration where the applicable conditions require one.

The corresponding statutory product fee is payable under the ordinance's monthly payment rules.

These declarations must be retained for five years.

Annual reports and verification

Licensed recovery organisations and producers operating individual compliance systems have annual reporting and independent verification obligations.

Reports for the preceding calendar year are prepared by 20 March and submitted with the relevant factual-findings report by 31 March, as established in the packaging ordinance.

An ordinary recovery-organisation member should follow its contractual reporting procedures and should not assume it must independently submit the same audited system report as the organisation itself.

The registration deadline depends on the actual activity start date. Scheme declarations must follow the agreed contract.

The PPWR introduces harmonized producer registration and reporting provisions, but their implementation timetable must not be confused with Bulgaria's existing national filing requirements.

Failure to register correctly, report packaging quantities, pay contracted contributions, or demonstrate fulfilment of recovery obligations can create regulatory and financial exposure.

Under Bulgaria's product-fee framework, failure to achieve applicable recovery objectives or provide the required verification can result in liability for the statutory product fee.

The authorities may request records, review evidence, and undertake inspections. Other sanctions may arise under the Waste Management Act according to the specific breach.

Businesses should therefore retain both the underlying packaging data and proof of compliant arrangements, rather than relying solely on a membership certificate.

1. Identify the responsible producer for every Bulgarian sales channel and legal entity.

2. Map all packaging types, including primary, secondary, transport, and service packaging.

3. Confirm registration requirements and submit information through the appropriate national system.

4. Determine the compliance route: a licensed recovery organisation or authorized individual fulfilment.

5. Assess foreign-producer representation under the rules applicable to the sales model.

6. Compare published recovery-organisation tariffs and obtain written contractual terms.

7. Calculate quantities by material and weight, using reliable supplier and product data.

8. Submit declarations and pay contributions according to the applicable timetable.

9. Reconcile annual figures and retain supporting documents and verification evidence.

10. Review regulatory changes, especially PPWR requirements effective from August 2026.

Bulgaria's 2026 packaging EPR costs do not consist of one fixed registration or recycling charge.

Standard producer-register entry has no identified government entry fee. The main recurring expense for collectively compliant producers is generally a recovery-organisation contribution based on the packaging placed on the market.

For example, ECO PARTNERS publishes a 2026 paper-and-cardboard rate of €0.082/kg, while ECOPACK publishes a base rate of €0.118/kg for the same broad material category. These are separate providers' commercial prices, excluding VAT.

The statutory product fee is a separate legal mechanism that can become relevant when the conditions for compliant collective or individual fulfilment are not met.

2026 fee note: Published commercial tariffs, discounts, and contractual charges may vary by provider. Verify the current applicable agreement before using any figure for an actual compliance declaration or final budget.

1. How much are packaging EPR fees in Bulgaria in 2026?

Costs depend on the material, weight, recovery organisation, and compliance route. Published 2026 commercial PRO rates include €0.082/kg for paper and cardboard from ECO PARTNERS and €0.118/kg as ECOPACK's base rate, both excluding VAT.

2. Is Bulgaria packaging EPR registration free?

No separate government charge for ordinary packaging-producer register entry was identified in the official requirements reviewed. However, registration assistance, electronic-signature arrangements, representation, and PRO participation can have their own costs.

3. Is membership in a packaging recovery organisation mandatory?

Not in every case. Producers can fulfil their obligations through a licensed collective arrangement or an appropriately authorized individual compliance system. Both routes require evidence that the relevant legal requirements have been satisfied.

4. Is there one official national packaging EPR tariff?

There is no single national commercial PRO tariff. Each licensed recovery organisation establishes its own contributions. Separately, Bulgarian legislation sets statutory product-fee rates that apply in the circumstances provided by law.

5. Does a small online seller have to register for packaging EPR?

Small sales volumes do not automatically create an exemption. The seller must establish whether it is the responsible producer under Bulgarian law and the PPWR. The applicable obligations depend on the transaction and producer status.

6. Do foreign sellers need an authorized representative in Bulgaria?

Certain cross-border producers are subject to the PPWR authorized-representative requirement from 12 August 2026. The rule must be assessed against the producer's establishment, transaction type, and applicable legal definition; it should not be assumed to cover every foreign seller identically.

7. How are Bulgarian packaging recycling contributions calculated?

For a material-based PRO tariff, multiply the relevant packaging weight in kilograms by the provider's €/kg rate, calculate each material category separately, and add the results. Apply minimum fees, discounts, VAT, and other contractual conditions where relevant.

8. When must packaging data be reported?

Recovery-organisation reporting follows the agreed contract. Where the statutory product-fee route applies, the monthly declaration is prepared by the 15th of the following month. Annual system reporting has separate March deadlines for recovery organisations and individual compliance operators.

Managing Bulgaria's packaging EPR obligations becomes more complex when businesses place products on multiple European markets and use different packaging materials, suppliers, and distribution channels.

ComplyMarket helps companies organize the information and compliance workflows needed to manage producer responsibility requirements.

Relevant support includes:

•  Tracking country-specific packaging EPR obligations and regulatory changes.

•  Structuring material, packaging-weight, and product information.

•  Organizing producer registration details and compliance evidence.

•  Supporting coordination of reporting data and recovery-organisation requirements.

•  Managing compliance documentation, deadlines, and audit-ready records.

•  Improving visibility over EPR obligations across multiple countries.

For companies handling several packaging formats or markets, consistent source data can improve the reliability of fee calculations and reduce administrative duplication.

Explore ComplyMarket's EPR Management Services or the company's Bulgaria Packaging EPR Compliance Services to discuss the support needed for your business.

Additional related resources include Packaging EPR, Packaging Data Management, Bulgaria WEEE EPR Services, and Bulgaria Battery EPR Services.