If someone already put them together neatly in a bin/bag why not take them back the store themselves and get the full $0.05? Organizing them is the hassle, not actually returning them.
Retunring them isn’t a hassle for you? That was always the hassle for me, takes all the time. How long does it actually take to throw them in a garbage bag or plastic bin?
do the math. youre only making about 10/hr if you have a huge supply of cans and conditions are perfect, such as no lines at the return machines, empty machines, etc.
$5 is worth it for me to not have to put all my random bottles into cases or bags, then carry them all up from my basement to my truck. Once they’re all organized and in my truck I don’t consider it a big deal to drive them to the store to deposit them, to me that’s the easy part.