More than 932 million bottles and cans were recycled through Return and Earn points from January to June this year.

The state's top recyclers were from the Central Coast Local Government Area (LGA). They returned 42.6m items that were worth $4.26m through the recycling scheme.

The second biggest earners were from the Lake Macquarie LGA who handed in 32.8m items, and in return netted $3.28m, according to data provided by Return and Earn.

The project was introduced almost five years ago, and it offers 10 cents for every item returned or people can opt to donate that 10 cents to charity.

In the past five years, more than $30m has been raised for a wide range of community groups, schools and charities.

Rounding out the top five was the Wollongong LGA (26.4m items), Newcastle (23.3m) and Shoalhaven LGA with 17.1 million items returned during the six-month period.

An Environment Protection Authority spokesperson said the peak season for Return and Earn is summer, where returns can reach as many as nine million containers per day.

"Return and Earn has delivered a 52 per cent reduction in the volume of drink containers littered since it launched in December 2017," the spokesperson said.

IN OTHER NEWS

Since its launch, more than 7.7 billion containers have been returned for recycling, which equates to over $770 million in container refunds returned to the NSW public.

"Two out of every three containers supplied into NSW are currently redeemed through the scheme, resulting in more than 717,400 tonnes of materials being recycled and contributing to a growing circular economy in Australia," the spokesperson said.

There are 615 return points available across NSW including Return and Earn machines, automated depots and over-the-counter return points.