The YMCA's recycling program takes plastics that aren't included in Blacksburg's program.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Gail Billingsley, executive director of the YMCA at Virginia Tech, looks into recycling bins in the parking lot next to the YMCA Thrift Store in Blacksburg. The YMCA's single-stream recycling program started last spring after a $1,500 donation from Waste Management.

She collects items from her home for Blacksburg's residential recycling program and also recycles materials from Eats Natural Foods, where she works part time.

What the town doesn't recycle, McCartney takes to bins at the YMCA at Virginia Tech, which offers a single-stream recycling program for plastics and papers, as well as recycling for electronics and textiles, such as clothing, shoes and purses.

McCartney estimates that she schleps stuff to the bins almost every day.

"I think it's a wonderful facility," she said Wednesday, after a trip to 1000 N. Main St. earlier that day.

"I just hate the idea of stuff that is perfectly recyclable ending up in the landfill. If we have the facility to recycle what we have, then we should be doing that," she said.

McCartney isn't the only one who uses the bins frequently. In fact, the success of the single-stream program -- which means the materials go into one container and no sorting is necessary -- has put the YMCA into a financial predicament. Officials are asking for sponsors to help pay for the service, said Gail Billingsley, executive director of the YMCA.

The service started last spring after a $1,500 donation from Waste Management. But because of the heavy use of the service, which takes plastics that aren't included in the town's program, that allocation was used up within six months, Billingsley said.

Since then, the nonprofit has been paying to continue the service. The problem is the YMCA, like other nonprofits, has seen it donations drop because of the economy and can't continue paying for the service, Billingsley said.

Officials are now hoping to find sponsors to cover the costs for the single-stream recycling. Billingsley said there are sponsors for the next two months and officials are looking for short- and long-term sponsors beyond that.

"If we can't find sponsors to cover it, we are going to have to discontinue it."

The cost of the program ranges from $350 to $400 a month, which includes the expense to pick up items from three bins three times a week. Waste Management collects the items and takes them to a recycling plant in Maryland, Billingsley said.

With the program, residents can recycle all numbered plastics, Billingsley said.

The town's curbside residential recycling program takes plastic bottles and jugs numbered one and two, along with such items as paper, cardboard, aluminum cans and glass bottles and jars.

Billingsley said the nonprofit's program is a way to help those who don't have access to curbside recycling find a place for their materials.

"It was just amazing how quickly everyone really took to the idea of doing more recycling," she said.

Within a month of the start of the program, Waste Management was picking up the materials on a weekly basis. That grew to twice a week and has been three times a week for a few months now, YMCA officials said.

"The proof is there that this is popular," Billingsley said. "It's needed in town and it's obviously well-used in town."

Billingsley said the hope is that the program will continue, especially in a community that seems to value recycling efforts.

"This is a very environmentally aware area."