[underseacables]

I was amazed in Berlin the recycling program that makes it very easy to recycle cans and bottles. People made it a job to pickup and search through trash so they could recycle. A can deposit would be welcomed, but maybe I’m old and just remember crushing cans to fill up trash bags to get $7. Sure was fun to get that money as a kid.

[frosted-flakes]

Some places you don't get the deposit if the can is crushed, because they need to be able to read the barcode. Which is insane, because crushed cans take up a fraction of the space of whole cans and only makes the recycling process more complex.

[pintxo]

The self-service machines used in Germany to collect bottles and cans will do the crushing part for you (after reading the barcode)

[frosted-flakes]

Yeah, but collecting whole cans is inconvenient. My normal process is to crush it with my hands immediately after drinking it (top to bottom) so it doesn't take up so much room.

[elondaits]

It’s not just that it’s easy… it’s also how much they give you per can or bottle (up to 25 cents)… it’s quite a significant amount, so you end up saving the bottles and taking them to the supermarket to get the refund.