'Government's new DRS recycling scheme could be the end of so many,' warns Lanarkshire producer

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“This could be the final nail in the coffin for so many small businesses.”That’s the warning from one Lanarkshire distiller to the government as they gear up to introduce legislation for a polarising eco scheme.The Scottish Government’s ‘deposit return scheme’ (DRS) is due to be introduced next August, but opponents of the scheme have called it the “most complex” version of such a scheme in Europe, posing a huge threat to their future.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Now over 500 businesses from across Scotland have signed an open letter to Green MSP, Lorna Slater - Scotland's 'circular economy' minister who is heading up the scheme's introduction - asking for it to be “be paused, revised and rewritten”.As it stands, the scheme will apply a standardised 20p deposit to all drink containers (glass, metal or PET) between 50ml and three litres.This will then be refunded to the consumer upon return of empty, in-tact containers to any one of 35,000 collection points – be it over the counter, via a reverse vending machine or an online retailer.However, this will have a “huge impact” on small businesses, such as Strathaven distiller, Colin McLean.Head botanist at McLean’s Gin, he told Lanarkshire Live: “There are so many issues with the proposed scheme, it’s quite literally impossible to know where to