In just two hours, staff had processed up to 5000 bottles, cans and containers.

"They're coming in with big volumes," said the statewide head of deposits Peter Quarmby.

"Add to that the bins and bags full of about 30,000 containers we collected in the weeks prior to opening, there has certainly been a lot of interest."

Operated by St Vincent de Paul's Society, the facility is only the fifth bulk-return warehouse in the state.

Capable of sorting up to 100 containers in under a minute, Mr Quarmby readily admits half the reason people are so keen to come is to see the machine work its invisible ministry.

Metal cans to the right, plastic bottles to the left and glass directly in front.

"Ever since we announced we'd be coming, we've had people on our Facebook asking, 'when are you opening, when is it happening', Wagga has been very interested."

"The kids love coming in and watching their cans go through. It's very spectacular to watch."

Sorters have a choice of pocketing their refund or donating it to the St Vincent de Paul Society, where it will be used in Wagga to promote services to homeless and vulnerable people.

Head of operations in Wagga, Mike Riley estimates up to 110 people will sleep rough tonight.

"That's a lot of people, we have to do something about that," said Mr Riley.

"Last year, we spent $1 million on helping people with food, rent, electricity, gas bills, the things that keep more people from ending up on the street.

"Every single can that comes here has the potential to help someone in need."

Up to 21 million containers have been processed in just a year via the existing four container deposit facilities.

Together, it represents up to 876 semi-trailer loads worth of recycling that has been diverted from landfill.

"This is an extension of what Vinnies has always been doing," said Mr Quarmby.

"We've always been into recycling, now it's containers as well as clothes."