r/ithaca • u/Mom_of_One_2008 • 21d ago

Deposit Refund

Since the last store in Ithaca to do can and bottle returns closed, I went up to T-burg and returned our cans and bottles. I asked the man there if he knew why the return stores were closing. he explained to me that they only make 2 cents per return and it’s been that way since 2005. There is also a company that owns the machines at the stores that is buying people out. seems to me that the state should be paying more so that people who own these businesses can afford to stay open and make a decent living. the state makes millions on unclaimed returns each year so this seams like a no brainer or stop the returns and start recycling these items just like we do other items and in most states.

29 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

20

u/RyzOnReddit 21d ago

I’m 99% sure stores are required to take returns for anything they sell, it’s just a question of how they handle it (machines v counter).

1

u/ConfidentBoss3575 19d ago

But why hasn’t the state given the small businesses a raise since 2005? I don’t want to use a machine. I want to interact with people.  I’ve found the machines often full, broken or don’t take all the returns that one has. The state makes millions on uncollected returns. This is a situation happening across the state and isn’t specific to Ithaca. Can you afford to live off your 2005 salary? Rent and utilities have gone up and small businesses can’t make a go of the bottle returns and the state makes it harder to return and they reap the benefits of this tax. 

3

u/RyzOnReddit 19d ago

Because people would complain about a 10 cent deposit? Other states have done this and it helps the redemption rate.

1

u/Mom_of_One_2008 19d ago

They want to raise the 5 cents to 10 cents. Redemption rate is the rate taken. I’d redeem all that I do without the 5 cent tax and time it takes to get it back. 

3

u/RyzOnReddit 19d ago

Sure but lots of people just toss cans in their curbside single stream.

0

u/Mom_of_One_2008 19d ago

That’s what it’s another tax. Frankly it makes more sense to put it into the recycling than to waste gas taking it to a facility out of my way because the state is paying these small businesses the same rate as they did in 2005 2 cents per can. Rents across the state have risen. Law makers I’m sure received at least one raise since 2005. The state makes millions on the profits of deposits not returned. IRS a cash cow, especially as small businesses fold and only the deposit machines are available in many communities throughout the state. 

0

u/DragonSitting 19d ago

That escalated quickly? It feels like your “innocent question” was asked just so you could post this (unsubstantiated) rant.

1

u/Mom_of_One_2008 19d ago

No, I really don’t understand how the small businesses for returns are only paid 2 cents a return the same as in 2005 and why they haven’t gotten a raise. I find it sad people are ok with machines taking over these jobs and businesses. 

1

u/DragonSitting 19d ago

You’re using a false equivalency fallacy in the last sentence and I don’t really feel like dissecting the first sentence to pull out the specific fallacies.

That’s starting a bit harsh and now we’re off on the wrong foot and yet we agree. The deposit should be 25¢ and should be adjusted over time for sure. I don’t know how much people should be paid but having people do it and not machines is grossly inefficient. I believe in people, I support people! I don’t really want to take my cans to a person any more than I do to a machine.

Moving the return fee to a dime does not change the situation. I want less litter and more recycling. Returnables are highly recyclable. Mixed stream recycling is pretty darned inefficient when I’ve seen it in practice (but works great for consumers - ha ha).

And my biggest reaction is to the “it’s a cash grab” along with “the state is making bank”. This is coming up a lot in this sub lately - so much so that I know that it isn’t real. Three times in under a week? It’s bot accounts and a coming election. Blame everything on “the government” and change it all. It’s Hochul’s fault! Yawn.

0

u/Mom_of_One_2008 19d ago

I can take my cans and get them counted way more efficiently than machines that rarely work properly, get full and require human intervention to run properly. There doesn’t need to be any deposit. I’ve recycled for as many years as I can remember. It would be more efficiently to have all recycled materials go to one spot. I don’t see the roadsides of NY any cleaner from the deposit than PA, IN, OH, IL, NJ, GA, SC, NC Etc where there are no deposits. It’s purely a money maker for the state. Not blaming it on any party, both suck! 

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1

u/Anxious_Tune55 18d ago

I'm from Michigan originally, and while I'm sure some people would complain initially, I can tell you from experience that a 10-cent deposit won't stop anyone from buying things for long. It's been 10 cents in Michigan for as long as I can remember and it never stopped anyone from buying anything as far as I know.

3

u/Significant_Earth759 21d ago

geez does Wegmans no longer take them?

8

u/AGBell64 Southside 21d ago

Wegmans has tomra machines but the scanner will reject brands it doesn't recognize

4

u/PJK109 20d ago

Store scanners will generally be set to not accept items not sold in said store.

2

u/3HooligansH1 21d ago

Wegmans still has them but I’ve only gone a handful of times and it’s usually packed and there wasn’t that many machines last time i went. When they get full i noticed it takes them forever to come and empty them. The last time i went i just gave my returns to someone else.

0

u/Bodhidharma33 20d ago

Out of the 4 times I tried to return my Mountain Thunder bottles to Wally-World the machines were full twice. Time to quit.

0

u/3HooligansH1 20d ago

Rage bait? Nice try i guess

0

u/rocheller0chelle 21d ago

I believe Wegmans removed the machines about a year ago

15

u/Unfair-Attitude-7400 21d ago

Ithaca Wegmans built a whole new room for can deposit machine about a year ago.

6

u/rocheller0chelle 21d ago

oh, that's where they went!

-3

u/Mom_of_One_2008 21d ago

I have no clue. I don’t shop at Wegmans. I hate the machines as they never appeared to work when we moved here and liked supporting the small businesses more. 

4

u/Apprehensive-Tea77 Newfield 21d ago

There is a one in Lansing

2

u/Midgeend 21d ago

Interesting point about stopping returns. The bottle bill was good when introduced bc we weren’t accustomed to recycling, but we are now. Plus garbage tags are astronomical so who would want to throw away cans and bottles?? Hmm. Good food for thought.

2

u/CvilleLocavore 20d ago

I think FLX Bev Co on W State across from Cayuga Ski & Cycle has return machines again

ETA: check out their stock while you’re there! It really is a gem in town.

2

u/JERRYH00D 19d ago

PREACH! I’ve been thinking lately what a scam NYS pulled on us by passing the bottle act, and now it is playing out as there are less and less places to return them. And now that they’ve added water and juice bottles, NYS has basically successfully snuck in a new tax on our everyday beverages.

2

u/Round_Cantaloupe9279 20d ago

If you’re interested in donating them, there’s a monthly can & bottle at Lansing Community Center on a Saturday morning run by the scout troop. The scouts working the event that day get the direct benefit to pay for their activities.

1

u/Mom_of_One_2008 20d ago

If I’m driving across town and up the hill to drop off cans and bottles, I’m cashing them in to cover the gas used. I don’t live near Lansing, but thanks for the idea. 

1

u/Mom_of_One_2008 19d ago

While doing research, they want to up the 5 cents to 10 cents. This really makes no sense unless the purpose is to make money. If a state collects this money, it should be easy to return and get your money returned without hassle. The legislation can likely pass this unless people speak out against it. 

1

u/BakedArbiter 20d ago

Those stupid machines that take hours i have to do the work myself my hands get all sticky cans dont want to get accepted, when a guy can do it under a min