Nostr only confession: I never return plastic bottles even if I have to pay deposit. I throw them out in plastic trash like before the mandatory deposit scheme. It just don't make any economic sense for me.
Discussion
burning plastic and using its energy output is far superior https://www.powermag.com/perspectives-on-energy-recovery-from-u-s-plastic-waste/
Would you if they pay it out in sats?
Soon no economic sense to buy them.
Time is our most valuable asset. It makes perfect sense.
I think this kind of law and mandatory deposits could and will make for a great plastic bottle stealing business.
I'm pretty sure there are still many places in the US where the recycling goes to the landfill. This is basically the cargo cult behavior -- maybe one day it will be recycled so if that day comes their behavior doesn't need to change.
Here they have a state recycling scheme. State forces stores to collect deposit for bottles. Something similar is in Berlin (or Germany?) for beer cans and bottles.
But saving €0.15 is not worth collecting the bottles and driving (yeah, eco) to the store where they collect it. I usually shop online, so I do not go to stores anymore, so I would go only for that and definitely not by bus.
A trash can for plastic is outside my house. Maybe it will even help someone who can collect the bottle from there and make €1.5 for 10 bottles.