Returning them through the deposit makes sense, but I never would think that the recycling pickup people would sort them. Ours just take it to the dump
They could do like propane tanks, where you just pay when you swap for a fresh one. You could also still recharge the battery you have. No subscription needed
I feel like there's more on the line with groceries being a staple necessary for human existence, so hopefully there's more motivation to stop this one. Your example stands though and I don't have a whole lot of faith that this will turn out different.
Like multiple types of flooring or multiple rooms or multiple levels?