Friday, December 18, 2009

McDonald's Bottle Deposit

The McChronicles was perusing a McDonald's receipt while enjoying the new Mac Snack Wrap this week. In the process, we noticed we had paid a 5-cent deposit on our water bottle.

OK - that had slipped by us. We wondered WHEN it was instituted, how we had missed it, etc.

Then, when we were leaving, we wondered what to do with the bottle.

Habit had us simply dropping it into the trash. But, we knew that was the wrong maneuver (sidenote: our community has a very strong recycling program that sorts the stream in a recycling center). We didn't want to be throwing away money.

So, where to put the bottle? A quick scan revealed that there was no redemption center in the McDonald's. So, the only option was to bring the bottle home and put it in our redemption bin (to be brought to a redemption center at a later date).

We wondered how many people actually know they have paid a deposit, and how many people will overcome their habit of tossing the bottle into the trash, and how many people will eventually get the bottle where it belongs.

We mused that it would be very convenient if the McDonald's had an automated redemption machine (like the machines found at WalMart and other places) where we could deposit the bottle and collect a receipt for our 5 cents.

Of course, that creates headaches for the store - they don't exactly have tons of extra space available, nor were they designed for this.

Ultimately, we wonder if bottled water should even be offered. The McChronicles gets it when it comes to bottled water (we "get it" that it's not a clear and simple issue). Bottled water is convenient, trustworthy, portable, and safe (minimized spillage). We also know that tap water is a perfectly good alternative, assuming it is handled cleanly. But we wonder if a cup is any better than a bottle when it comes to recyclability, trash, sustainability, etc. There are pluses and minuses for both positions. We "get it" that there is no simple answer.

At a recent McDonald's "McGreen" event, "Water coolers were available as an alternative to bottled water, reducing bottled water consumption by 25 percent," according to a report by Nancy Mann Jackson. Maybe a water cooler-type of service is the answer?

It is extremely clear that McDonald's is one of the world's leading companies with regard to corporate responsibility and sustainability. As a customer, The McChronicles hopes that McDonald's can show us the way to a better place on this important and confusing issue.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

The receipt shows you are from NY. In case you are not aware, the Bottle Bill of Rights (http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/bbofrights2.pdf) gives you the right to return the bottle to that very same McDonald's. You did not need to take the bottle with you. The store was also required to have the above notice posted in their store at the point of sale.

McChronicles said...

@JT:
The McChronicles spoke with this particular store. Some staff didn't know how to handle the bottle, but the manager clearly knew what to do - and had a policy. We've been redeeming our bottles (sourced there) at this McDonald's ever since - easily. Thanks for your tips and advice.

@Caleb:
Cool blog! We have added you to our blog roll. Thank you for the reach out.

DocMastr said...

Check out what happened the last time I was at McDonald'shttp://jimcheinzen.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-gives-mcdonalds.html

Unknown said...

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Unknown said...

Sàn Giao Dịch BĐS Đất Vàng chuyên phân phối căn hộ Hoàng Anh Thanh Bình
Các loại căn hộ 2 pn, 3pn, căn shop thương mại - dịch vụ, căn penhouse, căn hộ sân vườn.
Giá cả hợp lý chủ đầu tư:
Diện tích: Diện tích: 73m2 - 81m2 - 92m2 - 113m2 - 149m2 …
Phương án thanh toán linh hoạt, giao nhà hoàn thiện, có nội thất.
Liên hệ nhận thông tin bảng giá và đi xem căn hộ:
Nguyễn Văn Toán

Sàn giao dịch bất động sản Đất Vàng cung cấp cho bạn các thông tin cần thiết để bạn có cái nhìn tổng thể về thị trường BĐS năm 2015.
Web: Căn hộ Hoàng Anh Thanh Bình
Click vào Keywords: Căn hộ Hoàng Anh Thanh Bình quận 7, TPHCM
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Các loại căn hộ 2 pn, 3pn, căn shop thương mại - dịch vụ, căn penhouse, căn hộ sân vườn.
Giá cả hợp lý chủ đầu tư:
Diện tích: Diện tích: 73m2 - 81m2 - 92m2 - 113m2 - 149m2 …
Phương án thanh toán linh hoạt, giao nhà hoàn thiện, có nội thất.
Liên hệ nhận thông tin bảng giá và đi xem căn hộ:
Nguyễn Văn Toán

Sàn giao dịch bất động sản Đất Vàng cung cấp cho bạn các thông tin cần thiết để bạn có cái nhìn tổng thể về thị trường BĐS năm 2015.
Web: Căn hộ Hoàng Anh Thanh Bình
Click vào Keywords: Căn hộ Hoàng Anh Thanh Bình quận 7, TPHCM
Click vào Keywords: Can ho Vinhomes Central Park Tan Cang

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Unknown said...

That is not the case in Ontario; Ontario does not have redemption centres for plastic bottles. The milk containers even show to throw the bottle in the trash. So, what now? Why charge a deposit when deposit means: (unless otherwise stated) you receive the deposit amount when you bring that bottle in to a redemption centre. Again...Ontario had no such thing...

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