What are some good uses for pop tabs?
Kristi
In Ontario, I save all my pop tabs and give them to a friend who then takes them to a place where they are then melted down and used to make wheelchairs. If you are from the States, I don't know if you have a program like that. Check out the local children's hospital. That is where ours end up. (10/16/2004)
By Darlene
Use them for hangers for arts and crafts projects.
(10/16/2004)
By Harlean
My ex-husband, notice I said EX! He gave me a pop tab from a beer can for a wedding ring! How nice huh! (10/16/2004)
By Mechelle
I have used pop tabs as a buckle for a ribbon that I attach to a home-made greetings card. You can colour the tab with permanent markers (or if you're very crafty and you have embossing powder, you can use that) then thread the ribbon through and stick onto card. Looks really good! (10/16/2004)
By Elaine
You can use pop tabs in your scrapbook pages. Use it as a "buckle" for ribbon. You can paint or emboss it to match any color scheme.
It could be the buckle on a Santa suit for Christmas cards, decorations or children's artwork.
Place tabs in a circle to create a "flower".
Line them up for railroad tracks for toy trains.
Donate them to McDonalds for their Ronald McDonald houses that help families of sick kids.
(10/16/2004)
By Cheryl from Missouri
I believe all Ronald McDonald Houses collect the Pull Tabs to raise money to support the house expenses. The Loma Linda CA House collects all year long but has a big promotional day and they bring in over 10 million tabs. It is a very easy and free way to support a very worthy cause. People don't ask to get sick. Call your local House or Hospital to see where the nearest House is located.
The tabs are recycled. (10/16/2004)
By Lois
Kristi asked what to do with pull tabs on drink cans, at my job we save them and a lady takes them to school and children get Cancer treatments with them.
Brenda Hilton (10/17/2004)
By ThriftyFun
Ronald McDonald house here takes pop tabs, as does the local domestic violence shelter, both use them to raise funds---check in your area for those and other fundraisers that use them. Some of the dialysis centers use them also--- (10/17/2004)
By Susan
I am designing a handbag made out of can pull tabs for my major work in design and technology for the HSC. I think making belts accessories etc will be a good way to recycle the tabs and will look really good. What do you all think? (03/08/2005)
By maryanne
Actually, as far as charities go, you'd be much better recycling and donating the entire can than the pull tabs - all the charities that accept them do is recycle them and use the funds. It takes around 1000 tabs to make up a pound of aluminum, and only around 27 cans to make the same pound. Do the math, folks. (03/14/2005)
By MoretheFun.
One of the biggest mistakes made with the Tab Recycling Program, is to say "Why not just return the whole can?". to my knowledge, 11 states have Deposit Laws, it is hard to get some people to give up $1.20 for a case of returnables (or $2.40 in the case of Michigan), but to get them to give up 24 tabs, costs nothing, and when you put enough people together, you could be like my 4 member Cub Scout Den, and have collected over 680,000 tabs which we have donated to a variety of charities.
If your in an area that does not collect tabs for your specific charity (I saw 'autism' listed above somewhere), start your own tab drive, once you have your tabs collected, bring them to a recycling center, but don't set your goals too high, it takes 2,816 tabs to generate $1 US at 45 cents a pound. (09/14/2006)
By Cubmaster Pack 526, Iron Mountain, Michigan
I am the guy in the photo three posts down, since that photo was taken, we have added another 1 million tabs, so to the last two people who posted, I would be the guy to contact. coindude1 AT charter.net
I am not in N.E.Wisc, but I am in Michigans U.P., so, same thing. (06/28/2007)
By Todd
I have donated tabs for kidney dialysis patients & my place of employment is now collecting them for The Ronald McDonald House. Check a Ronald McDonald House in your state, or call a hospital or V.A. Hospital. (01/29/2008)
By THERESA
To the poster who wanted to know where to send tabs in Orlando Florida, Shenandoah Elementary is the largest collector of tabs in Orlando at 1,076 pounds since 2006. Shenandoah Elementary the 4th largest collector of tabs in the United States.
Liv, most hospitals have a dialysis unit that collects tabs, but the few that do not support McDonald house charities, just bring them to your closest McDonalds.
2,794 pounds and counting up here in Michigan Upper Pennisula (03/16/2008)
By Todd
I am a leader of a team that raises money to support Diabetes Research. My son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 3 and every year since we do what we can to raise money for a cure. If you are interested in sending your pop can tabs to us for Diabetes Research email me at nikkisnagfarm @ gmail.com thanks so much :-) (05/06/2008)
By Nikkiboyd
Elayna, it is no Urban legend, my Cub Scout Pack is the Largest donator of tabs to McDonalds House Charities at 3,400 pounds so far, plus another 395 pounds to other organizations.
Your tabs are considered 'clean aluminum' by 82% of the nations recyclers, and fetch 50 cents to a dollar a pound depending where you live.
You might have to make a few phone calls before dragging them in though, as 18% of recyclers don't take them.
should you be interested, I have built a web site devoted to tabs.
http://cubmaster526.angelfire.com/ (09/09/2008)
By coindude1
My fiance has an aunt who has cancer in her brain. Not only her aunt, but it has genetic where about in her family. She has not lost only one or two family members to some form of cancer, but six members. They suffered from cancer of the colon, throat, brain, and lungs. We have tried everything to help fund her aunt's chemo. Recently we found out that pop tabs donated to her cancer center can help pay for her treatment. If you are interested in sending your tabs to our cause contact me at dewdrocks32 AT yahoo.com (09/16/2008)
By Stephanie B
The aluminum tabs from soda cans can be used to hang lightweight wall hangings. A great recycling idea. This is a page about using soda tab tops to hang items.
This is a page about using soda can tabs to double wardrobe space. To help organize your clothes closet you can add room for more hangers by using can opening tabs.
Aluminum soda pop or beer can tabs can be reused in a variety of craft projects. They are great for making bracelets, belts or other jewelry.
