Here's an update on my recent laments about the disgraceful state to which the Oregon bottle deposit process has sunk, particularly at Safeway stores.

Others are feeling my pain. A reader writes:

I ignored/forgot your advice and visited the bottle return at Safeway last night. I will not make that mistake again. Only one machine worked and it had to be emptied every twenty minutes (I was there at least an hour and a half). It took at least 15 minutes just to get a clerk to come empty it. Finally, when it filled up on my turn a mute homeless man showed me how to empty and restart the machine myself. The most irritating part is that as I waited in line I noticed a sign that informed me the store will only refund up to $7.20 per day, per household! They actually cite two statutes, ORS 164.043 and 164.015. Being a prosecutor I recognized 164.043 as Theft III (I had to look up 164.015 today at work, it is the definitions section of Theft). So after I finished printing my three receipts (totaling $10 or so) I entered the store and (allegedly) committed an act of theft by allowing the clerk to subtract them from the $100 + I spent in the store.

Ridiculous.

Ironically, this note came in just as I was relishing the fact that I am getting out of the bottle return business myself. The other day I noticed that the local church and school were having their regular recycling drive. I hailed one of my neighbors, who was working on it, and he popped right over with a hand truck and took two cases of empty beer bottles off my hands. The kids get the $2.40, and I get to not have to go to Safeway. I believe that's called a win-win situation.