Since the state government’s Return and Earn scheme began – Cootamundra residents have returned 346,109 containers.

In seven days, from January 10 to January 16 – 72,403 containers were returned in Cootamundra alone.

Across NSW, 40 million containers have been sent to be recycled.

Coota Signs owner Quentin Tomkies put his bins out to be emptied and discovered the next day they were filled with rubbish from people using the Return and Earn station.

“I don’t have an issue with the scheme, but I think the setup could be better,” Mr Tomkies said.

At the moment only two bins are provided at the return and earn station, and they’re only for plastic bags.

However, you can usually find wine bottles, cardboard boxes and more inside.

It was same kind of rubbish which Mr Tomkies had found in his bins when he went to retrieve them.

"They need to provide disposal for things the machine doesn’t accept so neighbours and businesses don’t have their bins filled up,” he said.

Mr Tomkies said a bigger bin or more would help people using the machine.

“People don't have much of a choice, it’s either on the ground or in someone else’s bin,” Mr Tomkies said.

However, a NSW Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman said residents should take cardboard boxes and containers which don’t attract a refund home to dispose of instead.

“Return and Earn is designed to reduce litter and encourage people to do the right thing,” the spokeswoman said.

“As well as returning eligible containers, people should make sure they put any rubbish in the bins provided or take any ineligible containers and packaging home with them to dispose of or recycle where they can,” she said.