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.
Discussion
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.