Compliant by design not by accident
EA accredited, fully documented and audit-ready. Every shipment, every time.
EA accredited, fully documented and audit-ready. Every shipment, every time.
We hold the accreditations and licences required to export waste plastics from the UK to European recovery facilities. These are not optional extras. They are legal requirements, and we treat them as the foundation of how we operate.
Reef is accredited by the Environment Agency as an exporter of waste packaging. This accreditation is reviewed and renewed annually. It confirms that we meet the regulatory standards required to export waste materials from England.
We hold a valid upper-tier waste carrier, broker and dealer registration. This licence is required for any business that transports, buys, sells or deals in waste materials in England, Wales and Scotland but not Northern Ireland.
We hold signed Article 18 contracts with every processor we ship to. These contracts are a legal requirement under the EU Waste Shipment Regulation for green-listed waste shipments. They set out the obligations of both parties and must be in place before the first shipment.
Every shipment leaves with a correctly completed Annex VII document. This form accompanies the waste from dispatch in the UK to receipt at the recovery facility in Europe. It records the weight, waste type, quantity, origin, destination and recovery operation.
We carry out due diligence on every processor we work with. This includes verifying their facility permits, confirming their recovery operation classification (R3 for plastics) and in many cases visiting the site. We do not ship material to facilities we have not checked.
Quality problems are expensive for everyone. A rejected load costs the processor valuable time. It costs the supplier reputation. And it erodes confidence and trust. That is why we check material before it arrives at the port.
We carry out regular bale breaks at supplier sites. This means physically opening bales to inspect the material inside. We check for the percentage of non-target material, correct polymer identification and that the material is of like origin. Bale breaks are the most reliable way to verify what is actually in a bale.
Where required, we take samples from bales to be assessed. This is especially important for new suppliers or when a processor has specific target material thresholds. Sampling gives both sides confidence before committing to regular volumes.
We photograph every load before it leaves the supplier site. These images show the material condition, bale presentation and how the trailer is loaded. This creates a visual record that protects both buyer and supplier if there is a quality query on arrival.
If a processor reports a quality issue, we trace it back to the source. We work with the supplier to understand what happened, adjust specifications if needed and prevent it from recurring. This is not about blame. It is about keeping the supply chain reliable for everyone.
Before a new trading relationship begins, we agree clear material specifications with both the supplier and the processor. This means everyone knows what is expected. No assumptions. No grey areas.
Last updated: February 2026
The rules around plastic waste shipment are changing across both the UK and Europe. Staying compliant means staying informed. Here is what we are tracking and how it affects our customers.
The EU adopted a new Waste Shipment Regulation in 2024, with most provisions applying from May 2026. The new regulation introduces tighter controls on waste exports, strengthens enforcement against illegal shipments and moves towards fully digital documentation. For Reef, this means continued investment in our documentation processes to stay ahead of the requirements.
From May 2026, EU member states must provide electronic systems for submitting and exchanging waste shipment documents, including Annex VII forms. We are preparing for this transition and will support our customers through the change.
The UK's revised Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging is now live. From 2026, fees paid by packaging producers will be modulated based on recyclability. This is increasing demand for verified recycling routes. For our UK suppliers, working with an accredited exporter like Reef strengthens their compliance position.
The EU is tightening rules on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries, with a ban taking effect in late 2026. While this primarily affects exports outside Europe, it signals a broader regulatory direction: stricter controls, more accountability and higher standards for anyone moving plastic waste across borders. Reef has always operated to these standards.