I’ve lived in New York state for almost two years now, and I still haven’t adjusted. I flatten and crush empty pop bottles. I just dumped about 10 glass bottles into a recycling bin a few weeks ago without giving it a second thought. The nickel deposit still hasn’t made its mark on my mind.

Luckily, I have a fiancee who is usually quick to tell me, “Don’t throw those in the recycling bins.” She’s been here much longer than I have. For her, the nickel deposit trek is a way of life.

Personally, I still feel strange lugging bottles and cans back to the supermarket. I always say that I feel like a hobo. I then proceed to call New York a “hobo state,” which causes my fiancee to roll her eyes.

Of course, New York is not really a “hobo state” and homelessness is a serious problem, but it still doesn’t change the fact that I haven’t fully made the adjustment yet.

The answer as to why I haven’t managed to get acclimated yet seems quite simple. I don’t need the nickel deposit. It’s not for me.

Now, I understand the positives for the nickel deposit, first and foremost being the obvious recycling incentive. You might not mind bypassing a nickel, but why bypass three dollars if you can do some good (recycle) along the way? It feels as though you’re being paid to recycle, though you’re really not.

Litter reduction is also a big plus with the deposit system. I can’t really recall seeing any bottles and cans on the ground for long periods of time in New York. Bully to that.

Me, I’m a recycling guy. I’d rather cut out the run-around. Don’t take my nickel from me in the first place and I’ll drop all the bottles and cans off in bins. Simple. But I realize this isn’t the case for many people.

Another flaw involves the rather modern obsession with bottled water. (Which is another column all together. Tap water, people!) You can’t get a nickel back for water bottles or sports drinks, which is an unfortunate relic that needs to be remedied. Last year’s push in state government to expand the range of bottles eligible for deposit didn’t work — hopefully it will go through this year. If you’re going to do bottle deposits, go big or go home, you know?

The last time I was dropping off bottles and cans, I was dismayed to find that Cheerwine cans were not accepted. Fellow reporter Dan Pye was kind enough to bring me back cans of Cheerwine from his latest trip home to Georgia. I hear he went back home on a midnight train. (Whoo! Whoo!) Cheerwine is a dark, cherry-flavored southern pop, most commonly found in the Carolinas.

Anyway, the New York can deposit machines rejected the Cheerwine cans, which then had to be brought to the customer service window, shamed. Northern elitist deposit machines.

I also recently learned that all the unclaimed nickels end up in the pockets of the beverage companies. That’s another obvious item the state government has to address.

And another thing. A nickel? Didn’t the bill start out at a nickel? If we really want to create more incentive to recycle, jack it up to a dime.

Whew. I guess I’ve tossed in more than my five cents on this issue. Hopefully, this column will come to mind the next time I’m carrying glass bottles off to the bins. We’ll see. One step at a time.

Phil Dzikiy is a staff reporter for the Tonawanda News. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at 693-1000, ext. 114 or by e-mail at dzikiyp@gnnewspaper.com.