If there is such a problem with homeless people that desperate, then perhaps it is a sign one should do something about helping the homeless.
I grew up in Norway, and while Norway certainly isn't free of homeless people, I never saw this despite a widespread bottle return system (in fact, the Norwegian company Tomra has a majority of the world "reverse vending machine" market, primarily focused on bottle returns).
Norway have had a return rate in the 95%+ range for years in large part because a variety of groups of people see empty bottles as an income source.
I think this to a large extent have also culturally solved the problem: while some people certainly throw their bottles in the bin, there's little reason not to instead put your bottle down next to it, because you know it will get picked up.
You make it sound easy. Homeless is a hard problem: most of those people are mentally ill, and do not trust the helpers. If they can live on their own without help it can well be argued they are happier that way then in a home will professional help. This is a very complex subject that I've only scratched the surface of.
Yes, but there is a significant difference between people "just" being homeless, and people being homeless and so desperate that they cause other problems. One can alleviate their problems in many ways even if one does not manage to remove homelessness.
The 95% return rate has been kept up in more recent times even if the 1-2kr deposit has become less incentive due to price increases as they added a lottery option to all the machines. [1]
So instead of collecting your deposit, you can now click a button to see if you win a price (up to 1 million NOK), and if you lose you donate it to the Red Cross.
I remember as a kid in the 80s collecting bottles at events etc, back when a bottle of Coke was 6kr so the 1 kr deposit made a difference. I feel happy these days to press the donate button though when I am in the country.
I grew up in Norway, and while Norway certainly isn't free of homeless people, I never saw this despite a widespread bottle return system (in fact, the Norwegian company Tomra has a majority of the world "reverse vending machine" market, primarily focused on bottle returns).
Norway have had a return rate in the 95%+ range for years in large part because a variety of groups of people see empty bottles as an income source.
I think this to a large extent have also culturally solved the problem: while some people certainly throw their bottles in the bin, there's little reason not to instead put your bottle down next to it, because you know it will get picked up.