The Niles High School Viking Marching Band has come up with a unique way to raise money for their program.

“We had a parent who runs a local plumbing business,” said band director Joshua C. Doe.

That parent brought to the attention of the band how much money scrap metal is worth and how Redbud Recycling, a PADNOS affiliated recycling company in Buchanan, would allow the band program to donate scrap metal in return for cash.

“It has the potential to be between $20-$50 per unit,” Doe said.

So, Doe set up the “Niles Band Boosters” account at Redbud Recycling. Anyone with old water heaters, washers, dryers and more can drop their scrap metal off at Redbud Recycling into the account, and the money will go directly to the Niles High School band program.

Doe said that Redbud Recycling will accept any kind of scrap metal — even cars.

If you don’t have a way to transport your scrap metal, there will be a few days throughout the summer that a small army of Niles band students and parents will be available to come and pick it up from your house.

“We are trying to provide a service to our community,” Doe said.

The band already had one of these pick-up dates on June 11.

Doe said that the group picked up an old water heater, gas grill and aluminum swing set, among other things. He said that they won’t know how much money they’ve made for some time, but he estimated that, during their first pick-up day, the made somewhere between $300 and $600.

Doe felt that, through the recycling fundraiser, the band will be able to make a substantial amount of money.

“It would be nice to make a couple thousand dollars,” he said.

Doe said that the money is going towards new equipment, including buying new instruments and raincoats for the marching band.

This is especially important, Doe said, because the band will be marching over 100 students for the first time in several years. Unfortunately, he is struggling to find instruments for some of the band members to play because of this sharp increase in student numbers.

“The Niles band needs as much equipment as we can get,” Doe said.

Redbud Recycling is located at 15565 Walton Road in Buchanan, and the Niles Band Boosters account will be open until May 2016.

Anyone who wants to donate scrap metal will be able to use the account through that date.

The next day that the band will be able to pick up scrap metal is Aug. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To schedule a pick-up, call (269) 683-2894 ext. 323 or email joshua.doe@nilesschools.org.