The country of South Africa states an example of the development from a voluntary, industry-led Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging to a mandatory scheme. This change has been in place since 05 May 2021 in accordance with the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, Section 18 of the National Environmental Waste Management Act. Multiple voluntary EPR schemes for different packaging waste streams have emerged since the early 2000s, leading to an increase in separate collection and recycling rates for the materials covered by the scheme. There is still scope for further improvement that shall be addressed through the mandatory EPR scheme. Consultation to develop a mandatory EPR system started in 2017. The so-called ‘Section 28 Notice’, which set out plans for an EPR system funded by a tax collected from producers and managed by the government, was withdrawn in December 2019. It was replaced by the Section 18 Notice – Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme. This new Notice provides for a more co-operative relationship between industry and government. It requires, however, full EPR implementation for the sectors paper and packaging and some single-use products, electrical and electronic equipment, and lighting by 05 November 2021.