I'm not wanting to get into this one again, BUT...I agree with arachnid in that the deposit is only one way to keep litter off of the road.
Simple rule though: If you want your $$$ back you'll take the bottles back.
If that really were the case then companies would take even broken bottles back, but they don't. They just smile all the way to the bank with your $.05 donation.
I would consider it a business loss that is deducted on their corporate taxes so they actually "win-win" coming and going? (A rhetorical question that requires no answer). Of course anything not claimable is directly proportionable to their operating cost and passed on to the consumer in the form of a price hike.
Then you have MANY places will not take bottles back unless you made the purchase from that particular establishment.
STORE QUOTE: "I'm sorry, we don't take those bottles because we don't sell that brand". So much for wanting to recyle.
In Germany even the plastic soda and water bottles have deposits...and in case you're curious, many places also follow the same rules as far as brand recognition.
What about all the other bottles that DO NOT have a deposit? It's apparent that those companies don't want them back.
Janx, I know where you're coming from and what you are attempting to do, but sometimes you just can't wrestle a pig! It just doesn't work.
Good effort on your part though.
I'll give you that.