[jogjayr]

> California - you pay 5 or 10 cents but there is no practical way to redeem it

I once brought my cans to a recycling center and got paid. This was in the Bay Area. For the cost of driving it is uneconomical unless you bring hundreds of cans. Someone with a bike and trailer could make it work.

[voodoo_child]

Same. They’ve recently brought CRV charges into Ireland and almost every supermarket has a machine you can get your refund, so much more convenient. I’ve only noticed one of these near me in the Bay Area, and it’s almost always out of order or has queues of people waiting.

With over $800m in unclaimed CRVs[1], I’d wonder what kind of motivation there is to actually improve the service over “pocketing” the money. [1] https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2024/06/20/californias...

[hansvm]

Yeah, the problem is that they aren't required to take them and pay you. Most recycling centers don't have that system. You have to go a long ways out of your way (for most residents), leading to the problem you described.

[dragonwriter]

> Yeah, the problem is that they aren't required to take them and pay you

Yes, they are.

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/bevcontainer/consumers/

[jogjayr]

This page https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/InStoreRedemptio... says regular stores take them too.

And the recycling center I went to was right smack in the middle of South Bay. Not inconvenient.