A COWDENBEATH businessman is concerned about how the Scottish Government's Deposit Return Scheme could effect his microbrewery.

Local MSP Annabelle Ewing paid a visit to local businessman Ian McGrath at his microbrewery, Beath Brewing, to discuss the operation of the planned Deposit Return Scheme.

The Scottish Government is seeking to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers which, if realised, will be the first in the UK.

A deposit return scheme would be geared to helping reduce litter and improve recycling rates, representing a significant step towards achieving Holyrood's zero waste ambition.

But Ian McGrath, Foulford Road, is concerned how it would work and could affect his business. Effectively, 20p - the deposit - will be added to the price of a single-use drinks container bought from a shop. The consumer will get their deposit back when they return the empty bottle or can to the retailer.

Ms Ewing said: “It is completely understandable that businessmen like Ian McGrath will have questions about how any Deposit Return Scheme might impact on their operation and I was pleased to have the opportunity to visit his Beath Brewing microbrewery, in Cowdenbeath, to hear at first hand the concerns he had about any possible disproportionate impacts on micro breweries.

“We talked about the costs of registration and producer fees to be imposed and issues about labelling and the return points and I have raised these concerns with the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, and have asked if she will meet with the small brewers sector to hear at first hand of their concerns and to see how they can be addressed".

Ms Ewing added: “Everyone wants to do their bit to tackle climate change but we also want to ensure that we do not make it so bureaucratic and costly for micro breweries that they simply cannot afford to stay in business.

“I am confident that it is possible for to address the concerns of the industry and allows us to move forward with a scheme that has the important ambition of reducing waste, tackling litter and contributing to the fight against climate change so that we can protect our environment for generations to come.”