Data from the Environment Protection Authority shows more than 15,400,000 items have been recycled at Cowra's Return and Earn machines in the past three years.

Cowra local Rob Dawes made the trip to Cowra's machine on Sunday afternoon.

He said the Return and Earn scheme was a great initiative for people to take part in.

"It's good, it really cleans the town up, you don't see many laying around," he said.

"We started around then (the scheme's start), only collecting them from home. It saves chucking them out in the normal recycling."

The Forbes region has contributed over 10,300,000 items, Parkes recycled over 17,800,000 and Young reached over 18,700,000.

Return and Earn celebrated its third birthday in December with an EPA spokesperson saying the scheme has created a community-wide shift in attitude towards recycling.

"Return and Earn continues to be an outstanding success across New South Wales," an EPA spokesperson said.

"Over 4.8 billion containers returned for recycling through the scheme's state-wide network since it commenced three years ago, with the latest research finding three out of four NSW adults have participated in the scheme.

"The scheme has fundamentally changed people's thinking and behaviour around litter with over 40 million containers on average returned per week through the network of over 600 return points across NSW."

Return and Earn is becoming an increasingly important fundraising avenue for charities and community groups.

More than $15.5 million has been returned to not-for-profits and community groups through donations and fees since the scheme commenced.

Charities who have benefited from the scheme include Parkes Dragon Boat Club, Ronald McDonald House Orange and Young Hospital Auxiliary.