In my town as well, street people are collecting plastic bottles as fast as possible in order to get back a couple of cents.

As a result, the trash is less full, it doesn't spill everywhere, and the "legitimate" waste pickers have less to carry as well.

And for myself, it's an added value: I don't need to sort, I don't need to pay.

It costs me 10 cents per bottle but I'm sure it will be properly processed and that the money will go to the most motivated.