BC: change to bottle deposits, Oct 1, 2020

zod wrote: ↑ WTF?

Bottle deposits haven't drastically changed since I was a kid. In fact I think a 2L bottle when I was a kid was 30 cents.

Deposits are so low I loathe bringing back empties. We usually throw them in the shed, then bring a truck load to the depot. By the time you load 'em all up, put 'em in the truck, drive to the depot, sort them, it's like an hours work for $20 to $25 bucks. And that's like 6 - 10 months of empties for us.

We started putting glass bottles in our regular recycling because it slowed down how often we had to deal with it. Luckily we have entrepreneurs who pull all the empties that have deposits out of the recycling boxes.

I feel like they need to raise deposits to motivate more people bringing them back? Lowering them seems backwards.

Phonophoresis wrote: ↑ I would agree - it's despicable how many people don't recycle & how much litter is on the street, in our parks, etc. Those glass organic milk bottle are a great example - people make damn sure to return those... I think they are like a $1 deposit? Clearly, the trick is putting a high enough valuation on the deposit to make it an actual incentive to return (or disincentive to not return).

While I would be behind a massive bottle deposit hike, the trouble is, bottles/cans/tetra packs are usually sold in higher volumes. There is simply no way the masses would be okay paying like $20 for a case of pop.

Perhaps they've identified a psychological motivation. Just like how some areas don't even require you to separate out your recycling due to people being too lazy to sort a few pieces of paper, plastic, and metal out from each other.

zod wrote: ↑ True but right now it's 5 cents a can so 60 cents for a 12 pack or 1.20 for a flat. There's a big difference between 60 cents and 20 dollars. Even doubling cans to 10 cents, smaller bottles to 25 cents, and bigger bottles to 50 cents would probably go a long way.

Phonophoresis wrote: ↑ I would agree - it's despicable how many people don't recycle & how much litter is on the street, in our parks, etc.

Kiraly wrote: ↑ My beef is with people who can't be bothered with the refund and put refundable containers in the alley for recycling pickup, and then complain that homeless people push shopping carts in their neighbourhood picking it all up. I mean of course there are—what did they think would happen if they do that? 10¢ is obviously too low.

someone16 wrote: ↑ Ten cents across the board makes sense if it makes it much easier for the bottle depots.

I would have to disagree with it being too little. There are a ton of people going around picking cans and bottles. I'm surprised at how dedicated some of them were. It would be pouring rain or snow and they would be out there picking and trying to return bottles.

trellaine201 wrote: ↑ I leave mine in the alley. My good deed for the day. They get swept up quickly by the homeless.

zod wrote: ↑ WTF?

Bottle deposits haven't drastically changed since I was a kid. In fact I think a 2L bottle when I was a kid was 30 cents.

Deposits are so low I loathe bringing back empties. We usually throw them in the shed, then bring a truck load to the depot. By the time you load 'em all up, put 'em in the truck, drive to the depot, sort them, it's like an hours work for $20 to $25 bucks. And that's like 6 - 10 months of empties for us.

We started putting glass bottles in our regular recycling because it slowed down how often we had to deal with it. Luckily we have entrepreneurs who pull all the empties that have deposits out of the recycling boxes.

I feel like they need to raise deposits to motivate more people bringing them back? Lowering them seems backwards.

Kiraly wrote: ↑ RFD opportunity! From October 1 to 11, you still get 20¢ back on formerly 20¢ items, but only pay 10¢ deposit when you buy them. Stock up and drink up on October 1st!