Typically homeless people would collect them in places where returning the bottles was impractical. Trains stations are a good example. I remember many people w

Typically homeless people would collect them in places where returning the bottles was impractical. Trains stations are a good example. I remember many people would also leave the bottles on top of the bin rather than tossing them inside, to make it easier for them. I lived a few years in Germany about 10yrs ago, and took a lot of trains (ICE). I miss those nice thick bottles. Much better than the flimsy ones we have in the UK and the whole redeeming of the bottles while doing your shopping was kind of fun.