The whole deposit scheme is a fraud. They take the money up front when you buy the containers, and when you redeem them you never get the deposit amount.
And, the whole scam is based on the hopes that most of the bottles and cans aren’t returned, so they keep those deposits.
Exactly. It was the beginning of the recycle movement only you were charged “back in the day” for the deposit. (I made 15 cents for every 32 ounce bottle and 10 cents for every 16 ounce bottle) Candy time!