A total of 22 million containers have been returned as of January 5, with people from all parts of NSW participating in the NSW container deposit scheme, dubbed return and earn.

Eight new collection points are set to be opened in NSW, bringing the total number of return and earn sites for the state to well over 300.

Mark Gifford, NSW Environment Protection Authority chief environmental regulator, said the new collection points would enable even more people to return their eligible containers and claim the 10c deposit.

“The number of returned containers is growing each week as people around NSW get behind the scheme and do the right thing by the environment with their used containers,” Gifford said. “Now even more people can get involved, with new collection points in Tamworth, Griffith, Armidale, the Hunter, Bankstown and more – the scheme is rolling out to all corners of the state.”

Gifford said the total number of returns is expected to reach 25 million early next week. “These are huge numbers, and show just how popular the scheme is,” he said. “And it’s not just people returning containers – the scheme operator TOMRA-Cleanaway is receiving lots of applications from the community and local businesses to host reverse vending machines and collection points.”

The following eight new sites with reverse vending machines are all expected to be operational over the weekend: Kurri Golf Club, Clift Street, Heddon Greta ; Bankstown Plaza, South Terrace, Bankstown ; Carlo’s SUPA IGA Tamworth, Tamworth Shopping Village ; Carter Street Cricket Grounds, Tamworth ; Carter Street Softball Grounds, Tamworth ; University of NSW, Kensington ; Griffith Food Works, Banna Avenue, Griffith ; Armidale Recycling Centre, 108 Long Swamp Road, Armidale.

Another three sites are set to open soon in Edgeworth, Casino, and north Griffith.

Access exclusive analysis, locked news and reports with Inside Retail Weekly. Subscribe today and get our premium print publication delivered to your door every week.