His love of recycling began 28 years ago, when Jim Schroeder and his wife saw too many cans littering the streets.

“My wife said it’s a shame people don’t do something about that, we should start a club and I said that’s a bad idea, but we’ll try it,” says Jim.

That idea soon turned to gold, or aluminum rather, and the Can Collectors Club would earn the Schroeder’s thousands of dollars over the next few decades.

The club gained momentum and members, soon more than 100 people, mostly friends and family, began to drop cans off at the Schroeder’s home.

“Initially we saved money for our kids post high school education,” says Jim.

Money earned from the cans helped put all four Schroeder children through college. Though school is complete, Jim still loads up his car each week and gives profits to charity.

“This past year we hit our second highest total and collected about 47,000 cans,” says Jim.

For Schroeder, it’s a fun way to make a little extra cash. The best part? It’s environmentally friendly. Aluminum is currently 45 cents a pound, which means about three bags of uncrushed cans nets you $10. So next time you’re tossing a can into the garbage, think again and trade it in for cash. Or like Jim, start a Can Collectors Club of your own.