Who gets the bottle nickel?

I usually leave my bottles with nickel deposits curbside for the Boy Scout drive, which happens now and then. Today though, I decided to return some at the "Redemption Center." It was my first experience with an automated system that rejected more of my bottles than it accepted and took close to thirty seconds for each bottle.  So I left and tried the Supermarket. Same horror. Eventually, I just left the four or five dollars worth of bottles for whoever would have the patience to use the system. From now on, I will just toss the bottles into the (a. recycle bin b. woods) and eat the nickel. Who gets it? 

Judging by the number of shoppers I see clogging the cashier aisles at compared with the empty bottle return facility (and I say "the facility" advisedly), many others are making the same choice. I doubt they are littering, but many I am sure cannot be bothered. Is anyone measuring? Does anyone care?

And the Sierra Club wants MORE bottles to be covered? Who gets the nickels?