A Tamworth Return and Earn vending machine recorded a record 40,854 containers in one day as the region totally embraces the Container Deposit Scheme.
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In the first 13 months of the program residents have claimed over $1.8 million in refunds, although that isn't necessarily good news for everyone.
The city's four Reverse Vending Machines have seen 18,465,748 containers returned since the first machine was installed in January last year, equating to 70 per cent of all containers purchased.
The Robert Street machine has by far seen the most action, with just over 7 million containers returned, including the record 40,854 returns on January 28 this year.
The Oxley Bowling Club machine is second on the list with over 6.3 million returns, followed by 3.7 million at Calala, and 1.3 million at Kootingal.
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Overall the scheme has seen 1.4 billion containers returned in NSW, with the EPA estimating that litter has been reduced by 44 per cent.
While that is good news for almost everyone in the state, it did come as a surprise for Challenge Community Services CEO Barry Murphy.
Challenge have the kerbside recycling contract in Tamworth, and also receive 10 cents for every container processed from household recycling bins.
That money is being used to start a troubled youth program in Tamworth, based on Armidale's ground-breaking BackTrack Youth Works, although following the enormous local uptake of Return and Earn Mr Murphy has been forced to downsize his plans.
"In the year before the scheme started we would have made $1 million, and based on South Australia and industry standards we expected to lose 40 per cent of that to the scheme," he said.
"It turns out we have lost 70 per cent, so instead of making $600,000 a year for the program we are only getting $300,000. The North West is one of the biggest users of the entire scheme."
Mr Murphy is hoping to use a Buyback Centre, based in Taminda, as the foundation for the youth program, and is hoping to put a final submission before council in April to get underway.
Challenge, and council, already have $700,000 put away for the program, however will not be able to accept as many youths into the program initially as first hoped due to the loss in forecast revenue.
"Hopefully we can look to increase recycling in Tamworth so we can make more profit for the program," Mr Murphy said.
"If people think the program is a worthy cause then leave containers in the household yellow bins."
