Recent statistics show members of the Bathurst community have been responding well to the statewide Return and Earn collection scheme.
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According to the NSW Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], more than 20 million containers have been returned to Bathurst's three reverse vending machines [RVMs] and one automated depot since Return and Earn launched in December 2017.
With each container offering a 10 cent refund, the figure has generated more than $2 million for the Bathurst community and beyond.
EPA acting chief executive officer Mark Gifford said Bathurst has helped contribute to more than 2 billion containers collected across NSW.
"The Bathurst community has helped NSW achieve a 57 per cent reduction in eligible drink container litter volume since Return and Earn started," Mr Gifford said.
"Approximately half of all adults in NSW have used the scheme and it has fundamentally changed people's thinking and behaviour towards litter."
Mr Gifford said the recent summer period was the busiest across the Return and Earn network.
"The daily record for the scheme was set on January 28 of this year, with 6.8 million containers returned throughout the day," he said.
"On that day, Bathurst's return points collected 59,296 containers."
Bathurst's return figure has been bolstered by the success of Bathurst Recycling, with the Upfold Street depot having accepted around 55 per cent of the region's containers.
The recycling facility has been thriving on the back of its mobile collection service, which sends a truck to collect containers from various communities throughout the Central West.
Bathurst Recycling owner Craig Clark said the service has assisted communities with limited access to the Return and Earn scheme.
"We're looking to add a trailer to our service soon that will give us the ability to count containers on the spot," Mr Clark said.
"The service recently expanded to Wellington and Dubbo, and we're looking to incorporate smaller towns such as Yeoval, Cumnock and Kandos in the near future."
Mr Clark said the scheme is paramount to starting conversations about the importance of recycling.
"We've never really been taught to recycle properly and on the basis of the collection figures, it's clear people are starting to get the message," he said.
"The scheme is keeping containers out of landfill, ensuring our rivers and waterways are free of pollutants."
Return and Earn includes more than 640 return points across NSW, including RVMs, automated depots and over the counter sites.