NSW have just reintroduced the scheme that had in place decades ago (10c refund)
I've started collecting them too, but I don't go out of my way for it. It's just bonus pocket money at this point.
Only issue is there are not enough collection points. Businesses are pulling out because (a) they can't store all the cans and bottles and (b) they don't get paid for profit for it so they prefer to spend precious time on paying customers
I'm staying with family for Christmas.
On my first day here they went to dump some bottles in the recycling bin.
Me: No, no, I'll take them, I'll deposit them when I get back to Sydney.
Them: How about we put them in the recycling bin and you can just take what you want when you go?
Me: (picturing the old school black tub recycling bins) Ok!
Me, a day later after volunteering to drop bottles in the recycling bin: ... when did you you guys change to an Otto bin for recycling??? I'm going to be head-first in it retrieving bottles!
I'm with
@marty998. I won't go out of my way to drop off bottles, but I am going one step further to collect them (bringing a couple of bottles home from work, picking up the odd empty water bottle my neighbours leave in the garage, etc) to make those trips worth my while.
And I understand the scheme has had 10 million bottles returned since it started on December 1 so, for all the drawbacks, people are getting involved.