[SeppoErviala]

I think one of the reasons for returnable cans and bottles is to teach children about money and work. Many people I know once ran the can business in their household as children.

EDIT: This requires grocery stores to take return bottles, I'm not sure if I would let my children to a hobo-filled recycling center.

[thaumasiotes]

My brother and sister (both 10) "run the can business" in their household now, but what that actually means is that my dad saves the cans and drives them to the recycling center when they think they have enough. What exactly is the lesson to be drawn about money and work?

(I can tell you that the reason that system obtains in the household is that my mother feels very strongly that recycling is the moral thing to do, but I'm still struggling as to what lessons a child would draw even if their parents wanted them to)

[SeppoErviala]

If you show initiative and return the cans you can obtain money that would not be available otherwise. Pretty straightforward in my mind.