The NSW Government’s recycling scheme aims to reduce the state’s litter volume by 40 per cent by 2020 and offers people a 10 cent refund on acceptable bottles and cans.

While some collection point locations have a self-service reverse vending machine for the public, Bathurst only has an over-the-counter collection point at Metro Petroleum in South Bathurst.

The store has been accepting bottles since December 2 and owner Raja Kallem said he has received little assistance during the government initiative.

“I didn’t get any collection materials or bags so I’ve had to produce bags myself,” he said.

Mr Kallem has already accepted 12,000 bottles for Return and Earn and given out $1200 in cash refunds from from his “own pocket” to customers.

“Until now I’ve received a single payment [of $100]. I’m out of pocket,” he said.

Mr Kallem said he volunteered the store to be an over-the-counter collection point to offer his customers an additional service, but said he had no idea it would up take so much time.

“It’s very hard for me to run the business with this,” he said.

Mr Kallem said his fuel customers are often left standing and waiting while staff count bottles that are being handed in for refunds.

A large shipping container located next to the shop, where bottles are being kept, it is yet to be picked up by the contractor and Mr Kallem said he has no room to store additional bottles.

“Until it is emptied I can’t take anything,” he said.

Once the container has been emptied, Metro Petroleum will again start accepting items.

A maximum of 100 items a day can be returned at this collection point. The refund can be taken as cash or used for an in-store purchase.

Mr Kallem said he was promised that a reverse vending machine would be constructed at the site, but he been given no indication to when this will occur.