Trinity John Carter was wearing a black balaclava and dark clothing and at one point tried to smash a security camera with a piece of wood.

Police who rushed to Federal Council's Poseidon Road community recycling centre came across Carter riding a pushbike in the other direction.

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When asked what he was doing, Carter replied: "Collecting cans."

The crime took place back on September 29, 2019, at 5.09am, but since then Carter, now 43, spent time behind bars in Victoria over the fire.

The Office of Public Prosecutions recently withdrew a charge of criminal damage by fire against Carter, who was freed on bail in July after more than 200 days in custody.

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Carter had been accused of helping a woman set fire to room four at the Warrina Motor Inn on August 31, 2020, by the act of handing her a cigarette lighter then used to set a mattress alight.

The charges related to the Corowa incident were briefly mentioned in Albury Local Court on Monday, when defence lawyer Chirag Patel told registrar Wendy Howard that Carter had already pleaded guilty over the matter.

These charges included enter enclosed lands without lawful excuse, possess means of disguising face with the intention of committing an indictable offence, being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence and failing to appear on bail

Three other unrelated charge sequences were also mentioned. Mr Patel entered pleas of not guilty on behalf of Carter - who was excused from attending - to charges including driving a vehicle under the influence of a drug, using offensive language and resisting police.

A hearing will be held on January 13.

The court heard how the footage of Carter inside the recycling centre was relayed live to a manager's mobile phone.

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