Bottle Return Protocol

 Nowhere is there a written policy, I guess, and who would have thought there was such a need.  My practice for bottle return is to keep a bag in the trunk of my  car where I deposit the empties almost every day. I don't want the empty containers in my house because, you know, odors and ants, etc.  I keep them in my car to return when the bottle redemption center at Schaghticoke is free of any redeemers. Never would I ever approach if anyone else is  returning their empties.

   So early afternoon one fine day last week, there was nobody at the center, not a soul in sight.  I took my bag from the trunk of my car; the bag contained 4 plastics and 20 cans. (There  were visitors who had drunk soda.) I deposited the 4 plastic bottles and was stepping over to the can return when a woman carrying 2 large bags of cans zoomed from behind me straight to the can return. She said not a word, just started depositing the cans. I took a few steps back, Covid aware, and just stood there. After she finished with the first bag, she turned to me and asked if I wanted to deposit my empties; she said she still had a lot to go. I said no thanks, it was a nice day to be outside. She finished, thanked me, and left.