Why are most wine and liquor bottles exempt from state redemption recycling programs?

It’s difficult to comment on what’s going on in the rest of the country, but this town is absolutely awash in booze and outlets for the same. The stuff is sold in every mom & pop corner store grocery outlet. And yet I can’t remember the last time I saw a glass wine or liquor bottle lying around anywhere in the town. Speaking of glass containers, has anyone noticed that it is next to impossible to find condiments sold in glass jars or bottles. The shift has been quiet but relentless. Ketchup, Mayonnaise, mustard, relish, they’re all in plastic. It turns out that there are people here collecting all glass bottles and recycling them at special yards. I don’t know what they earn on them, but you see the pickup trucks crammed with them crawling between the innumerable bars in the dawn hours of the mornings.

This is a mystery to me! When I left this province, they were accepted for like 20c per bottle, and now that I’m back, they just go out with the curbside stuff.

Perhaps we’re getting too good at recycling – they’re feeling no need to offer a refund. At least it means we don’t have to pay the deposit.

Perhaps it is because of the easy evaporation of the alcohol and it’s volatility? I could see where the alcohol might present ventilation and fire hazards.

The only other thing I can suggest is the age old prohibition against re-use of liquor bottles, period. Probably to prevent unscrupulous people from refilling them.

Interesting question, as plastic liquor bottles bear a PETE 1 designation for recycling. I just looked.