More than five million bottles and cans are currently returned through the recycling scheme every day - the equivalent of two containers for every household in the state.

"We are challenging NSW residents to put their local area on the recycling map by returning as many eligible drink containers as they can through their local return point for the week," Janelle Neath, acting CEO of Exchange for Change, scheme coordinator for Return and Earn said.

"We'd like to see all of NSW involved and if you haven't returned and earned before, this week is the perfect time to set yourself a new habit that's a win for the environment and your wallet."

The latest Return and Earn figures for the first six months of the year show Blacktown, Central Coast and Canterbury-Bankstown local council areas as leading Return and Earners, and the areas to beat.

All Return and Earners are encouraged to post photos and stories of their recycling efforts during National Recycling Week tagging #returnandearn #nationalrecyclingweek.

Return and Earn points in the Maitland area can be located at:

To avoid queues, residents can check the website, returnandearn.org.au for peak times.

Return and Earn also encourages people to recycle responsibly and take all rubbish with them when leaving a return point.

Each container deposited into one of 640 plus Return and Earn return points statewide is diverted from landfill and recycled into a new product while earning the consumer 10 cents for each return.

Visit returnandearn.org.au for more information on the recycling program.