Ellington

The Soddy-Daisy High School Band is asking community members to turn things they no longer need or want into opportunities for young music lovers.

All Green Recycling owner Sean Sims is shutting down his business for Turn Your Trash Into Cash Recycle Day Saturday, Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to noon, during which time people can donate items to be recycled, with the proceeds going to the SDHS band.

“It’s kind of a nonconventional fundraiser,” said Anna Peebles, president of the SDHS Band Boosters, adding that the boosters and individual band members must provide nearly all the funds necessary to operate the program. “What the school board is able to provide is a room and a band director.”

The annual operating cost of the SDHS band program is around $78,000, and individuals must pay $385 to more than $400 each year to participate, said Anne Hendrix, SDHS Band Boosters representative and organizer of the recycling fundraiser.

“We’re always looking for out-of-the box ways to raise money,” said Hendrix, whose husband Tim came up with the idea for the recycling fundraiser. “My husband is in the forklift parts business, and he often comes across scrap metal.”

He suggested the band ask people to recycle items such as scrap metal, aluminum, copper and cardboard to help raise funds.

“There’s so much stuff going into the landfill,” said Anne Hendrix. “Something you would put on the curb, we could recycle.”

All Green Recycling has been supporting local schools through donations since Sims opened the business nearly three years ago, but this is the first recycling fundraiser it has participated in, said Tim Smith, supervisor at All Green Recycling.

“It seems like a good idea where we could help everyone out,” he said.

A full list of items accepted is available on the band’s website, said Anne Hendrix. Even old cars can be recycled, although at a cost of $40 to the customer, she said, with proceeds from the sale of the parts going to the band.

“We hope the community will get behind us,” said Hendrix, encouraging people to clean out their garage and ask their neighbors for unwanted items to help out the band. “The band represents the best and brightest of our high school, and this is a chance for the public to see teenagers working together for a common goal.”

People who know a member of the band can specify that the proceeds from their donated items go toward that individual’s expenses. Half the proceeds will be put into the student’s account and the other half into the general fund. Otherwise, all of the proceeds will be put into the band’s general fund, said Hendrix.