Eight hundred thousand? A million? 

Wrong.

To date, 1.2 million drink containers have been collected at the RVM. And that figure is climbing. Rapdily.

And that success is causing all sorts of problems for people looking to take advantage of the return and earn system.

Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams says the RVM is already being cleared twice a day, just to keep up with the useage.

"The RVM is cleared twice per day, but if someone goes to the machine and finds it is full they can report it by calling 1800290691 which is written on the RVM," she said.

“People can also take their containers to the Hope Shop in Milton Circuit or the Honour Church at Lake Innes which operate over the counter collection points.  

“I would also recommend people download the Mytomra app which gives real time info if a machine is full or not. 

“Negotiations are currently underway to rollout more RVMs in Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven.”

The success of the scheme also has its downfall, according to one resident, Glen Twaddell.

He says he is getting frustrated because the bins were, seemingly, always full.

"I have made several trips to the RVM only to find that the bins are either full or unusable for some reason," he said.

"This is a cost to me of multiple fuel trips. It is one of the downfalls of this scheme; the bins are not emptied frequently enough.

"I also have concerns about safety issues in the immediate area around the RVM. Cars are driving close to where people are lining up to deposit bottles and cans.

"Hopefully there is not a serious accident."

Mr Twaddell described some of the RVM users he has spoken with as 'frustrated and angry people'.

"I would also question the long-term viability of the project given that we will see an increase in recyclables flooding the market," he added.

Across NSW, 244 million containers have been collected.

For more information go to https://returnandearn.org.au/