The people of Lithgow have got behind the scheme, having returned more than 9,201,163 containers.

"Return and Earn has been very successful in the Lithgow region, with millions of containers returned to the local reverse vending machine (RVM), helping contribute to more than 2.7 billion containers collected in NSW," an EPA spokesperson said.

This averages to over 30,000 containers received every single day by the the Lithgow RVM.

The EPA spokesperson said that Return and Earn had changed people's thinking and behaviour around litter.

"Over five million drink containers are returned every day and an impressive current redemption rate of 67 percent of eligible drink containers supplied into NSW," they said.

"Every bottle returned is a bottle redirected from landfill and keeps our parks and waterways cleaner."

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Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment James Griffin said the people of NSW should be commended.

"This time last year we were celebrating one billion containers returned on the first anniversary of Return and Earn. The growth of the scheme has seen us knocking on the door of three billion a year later," he said.

"Equally significant has been the impact Return and Earn has had on charities, schools and community groups, helping 430 official donation partners and countless other groups to fund a range of programs, resources and assistance for communities in need."

Any school, charity, community or sporting group interested in fundraising as a local donation partner can visit the Return and Earn website to find out how to get involved.

The Lithgow RVM, located at Lithgow Valley Plaza, accepts cans, cartons, plastic bottles and glass seven days a week.

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