Being poor as dirt when as a boy growing up in rural Arkansas, I used to collect empty Coke, Pepsi, RC Cola, Nehi, Seven Up, or any bottle that was returnable, just to make some pocket change. Times have changed, a little.
Times have definitely changed regarding the idea that coins and small denominations aren’t worthless but actually can add up. There is an ostensibly able bodied guy in late teens whose career is to sit on the church steps opposite our apt and beg. When we walked past yesterday, there was a 1-peso coin on a paving stone half a meter from him. He couldn’t have missed it, but he didn’t bother to pick it up.
The question I have, though, is whether the returnable bottle system even allows people to collect discarded bottles and turn them in for cash, as you were able to do, daniel . Can they do that? Or is it like the returnable beer bottle system, which gives not cash but merely credit to someone buying more beer?
If this is the case, the incentive for keeping the streets cleared of returnable Coke bottle litter would be completely removed.
I hope that Coke gives kids cash for bringing in the empties. Does anyone know?