Put a deposit on the bottle that it comes in, similar to how states like Michigan have a bottle deposit. Make it large enough that the consumer would be incentivized to return the bottle, even if they themselves don't actually re-use it. This way they could simply return the empty bottle, even if they don't plan on refilling it.
What you are describing is simply a bottle recycling program as it already exists in a number of European countries. But the OP was talking about the need for alternatives to bottle-recycling programs.
