Salem, Ore – Empty cans are now worth 10 cents to anyone willing to feed them one at a time into a putrid machine.

As of April 1, 2017 Oregon has increased the bottle/can redemption refund from 5 to 10 cents. This is the first increase since the program was implemented in 1972. Since then, the bottle bill has been successful in putting millions into the pockets of Oregon’s homeless.

OLCC spokesperson, Patty Hunsaker, provides some history of the Bottle Bill,“The program was always intended as an income source for the homeless, so we were surprised to find that there was a large number of middle class folks saving their cans to return for the refund”

The OLCC was tasked with coming up with a way to make the can redemption process so unpleasant, that only the homeless would participate.

“That’s when we implemented the can redemption machines. The machines are sprayed down with a mixture of sugary cola and light beer. Then a hornet’s nest is planted behind it. That did the trick, it was only the homeless returning cans after that”

Despite the success of the program, redemption rates have been on a steady decline over the years, which prompted the increase to the refund.

“I may be homeless, but I still have my limits of what I’ll do for five cents,” said Larry “Duke” Watkins, a homeless man in Portland.

The OLCC is confident that even with the increase, the program will still be used exclusively by homeless people.

Hunsaker said,“Our research indicates, in today’s market, the redemption refund would have to be at least 75 cents per can, before any rational, contributing member of society would consider participating in the program.”