Roche Bros and Shaw's Faulty Bottle and Can return machines

Editor's Note: see this earlier post about the Walpole redemption center and consider taking your cans to the High School Bottle and Can Drive this weekend.

In Shaw's last weekend returning Coke cans I found the first machine NOT working and on looking inside noticed the Laser reader was not lit. I then move to the next machine which worked as I expected and rejected every second or third can which I then pushed through as many time as necessary to finally get the cans processed.

Returning to first machine I noticed that there were 6 or 8 cans in the trash and took them to the second machine which took them properly. After that, I told several people including the manager that when people cannot get the machines to work the cans end up in the trash and they feel frustrated/cheated and bottle/can return law is failing. An "out of order sign" on the first machine is the very least to be expected.

Sadly; that same morning, I was at Roche fourth (with a different group of cans) and encountered the same problem where the machines reject every third of fourth can which I then pushed through as many time as necessary to finally get the cans processed. This is apparently caused by the lasers failing to read the USP labels on the cans which I would guess is due to a need for better machine maintenance. I do appreciate that the Super Market managers are excellent listeners and folloiw through as best they can.

David C. Foss :: Gay Street