While Wellington was one of the first locations to get a reverse vending machine, Dubbo’s was only installed recently after getting approval from Dubbo Regional Council. The machine is located near the Dubbo skate park and Men’s Shed.

Return and Earn has been introduced across the state to reduce drink container litter. The goal is for the volume of litter to be cut by 40 per cent by 2020.

Most 150 millilitre to three litre containers are eligible for the 10 cent refund, as long as they are made from glass, plastic, aluminium, steel or liquid cardboard. When returning the containers they should be empty, uncrushed and have the original label intact.

Council’s director community and recreation Murray Wood said Victoria Park, and specifically the skate park, was chosen as the location for the machine as it was a consistent hotspot for litter.

“It was considered as central to all Dubbo residents, in close proximity to a known hotspot, easily accessible to major recreation areas highly utilised by the younger members of the community and is serviceable by sealed surfaces and access to power,” he said.

Saupriya Solanki, who has become a frequent user of the reverse vending machine since it was installed, said, said there needed to be more in Dubbo.

The machine quickly filled up, he said.

Council would receive $8000 per year for the reverse vending machine at Victoria Park, Mr Wood said.

“I’m pretty confident that any of the pitfalls that have occurred elsewhere have been avoided. We’ve had some pretty frank discussions with the state government in regards to that as well so there’s a pretty low risk,” he said.

While councillor David Grant said the one in Wellington seemed to be going well, mayor Ben Shields said he had received a complaint from a local business owner.

The business person was not impressed the machine was located in the Woolworths’ car park. Cr Shields said.

“The only way that customer can get their money back is to go to that small store’s big direct competitor which is the big guys. I’m not too sure if the government has got the model right there. It doesn’t necessary sit well with me,” he said.

Thirteen million containers have been returned from around the state since the Return and Earn scheme began under a month ago.

Boxing Day has been the busiest return day to date with more than 870,000 containers deposited at the 312 collection points.