Lithgow is expected to get its first Return and Earn reverse vending machine by the end of the month but the NSW government has not been able to give an exact date or location.
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A spokesperson for Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton indicated Lithgow would get its machine by the end of January but attempts to find out when or where were unsuccessful.
Nationals MLC and Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless made enquiries on behalf of the Lithgow Mercury but could only say it was likely to be before the end of the month.
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Lithgow is one of the largest towns in NSW still without any return points for the container deposit scheme, which has been operating since December 1.
Residents have been forced to store their bottles, forego the refund, or take their bottles to collection points at Bathurst, Oberon or Katoomba for the past seven weeks.
Rydal resident Gordon Shannon said he was frustrated the scheme had started without collection points available for everyone.
“Why is Lithgow still waiting when some towns have two machines now? It’s not like this popped up overnight, the government had plenty of time to get return points established,” Mr Shannon said.
“If it was a problem, why didn’t they postpone it?”
Mr Shannon said he thought the government should have done more to ensure everyone was able to get access to the rebate from the beginning of the scheme.
“I don’t mind paying for a service but you need to be able to access that service,” he said.
“I am paying more each week for my drinks so why shouldn’t I be able to claim it back?
“It’s costing me about 50 cents a week but over a year that’s $25 and that’s a lot of money for me as a pensioner.”
