Well, were they recycled or not?
If they were, then the system worked, if not then THAT
is fraud.
That’s what I was thinking (what you said).
The fraud is that you get extorted by the state every time you buy a bottle or can of drink in order to “encourage” you to recycle it and get your money back. Apparently people were recycling cans for which the state didn’t get to extort money from the original purchaser. I am happy to see California’s stupid behavioral modification program defrauded.