Josh Pratt, who is contracted to Cleanaway Australia, was in Grenfell last week speaking with businesses but is yet to find a site where Grenfell residents can return bottles and cans and collect a 10 cent refund.

“One of the requirements is the business needs to have space or access to a 20 foot shipping counter,” Mr Pratt said.

“In country areas we don’t have a daily pick up service and containers will pile up.

“A lot of small businesses want the opportunity to benefit from it but unfortunately they don’t all have the space.

“It would certainly help the community if we could get this up and running in Grenfell,” Mr Pratt, who can be contained on his mobile 0423 748 538, said.

While some larger centres, such as Cowra, have reverse vending machines Mr Pratt is looking for an over the counter site for Grenfell.

Over the counter sites have already been established at many different locations throughout the state including the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Lightning Ridge, IGA Baradine, the Warrumbungle Shire Council at Dunedoo, the Peak Hill Caravan Park and the Central Hotel Ungarie.

Over-the-counter collection points are typically located at retail or shopfronts where you can exchange your empty eligible containers with the person behind the counter for a cash refund. 

The return and earn scheme, designed to reduce litter, offers a 10-cent refund for every eligible can and bottle handed in via reverse vending machines or at over-the-counter collection points across the state.

For those of you who’ve been storing your aluminium cans, plastic containers and glass bottles – here’s everything you need to know about the scheme. 

Most 150ml to three litre drink containers will be eligible for a 10 cent refund at an approved NSW collection point.

Container materials that may be eligible for a refund include:

Containers should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken and have the original label intact. If a container isn't eligible for a refund, use a recycling bin.