What Is HERRCO, Greece’s Packaging Recycling Scheme?

In short: HERRCO, the Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation, is Greece’s principal collective scheme for packaging recycling. Businesses that place packaging on the Greek market commonly meet their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations by joining and reporting through HERRCO. It operates under the oversight of EOAN, the Hellenic Recycling Agency. All of this fits within the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation — Regulation (EU) 2025/40, the PPWR — which generally applies from 12 August 2026, with obligations phased over time.

How the scheme fits together

The PPWR sets harmonised EU packaging rules, but EPR is administered nationally. In Greece, EOAN supervises producer-responsibility arrangements, while HERRCO runs the collection and recycling scheme that many producers join to discharge their obligations. Registration and reporting are handled in Greek.

What it means for sellers

• Check whether you are the party first placing packaging on the Greek market.
• Register with EOAN and join a scheme such as HERRCO where required.
• Report packaging quantities and material types, and keep supporting records.

Because timelines are phased and national specifics can change, treat this as a qualitative guide and confirm the current position with EOAN or the relevant Greek authority before relying on it. For context, see our Greece country page.

This article is educational, not legal advice.