# Collecting Pop Tops from Soda Cans - Scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266 "2024-12-06T18:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/1 "2024-12-06T18:56:11Z")
I tried looking this up on Google, but all I can get as an answer is maybe. HR just announced at my workplace that we should save the pop tops from our soda cans to give to a co-worker who is collecting them for some charity drive. I seem to remember warnings from years ago that this is a hoax. Something about teaching children about philanthropy or something. What’s the scoop? I wanted to object to this as being fraudulent, but I don’t have enough evidence. I don’t wanna hafta bother with this nonsense if it is all a hoax. I got enough little chores, thank you very much. Does anyone have some info on this practice? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/2 "2024-12-06T18:59:41Z")
Probably for Ronald McDonald House: > **[Pop Tab FAQ – Ronald McDonald House Charities Midwest MN, WI, IA](https://www.rmhcmidwestmwi.org/poptab/)** > > What is the Pop Tab Program? Our Pop Tab Program is a great way for families, schools, organizations, businesses and individuals to support the RMHC Midwest | M If you are not familiar with them: > **[Ronald McDonald House Charities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_McDonald_House_Charities)** > > Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent American nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. > RMHC has a global network of chapters in 62 countries and regions under three core programs: Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. > The first Ronald McDonald House was opened in Philadelphia in 1974. Jim Murray, general manager of the Philade... ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/3 "2024-12-06T19:00:39Z")
It’s not a hoax or a scam, per se, but there’s nothing magical about them, either. Pull tabs are only worth as much, by weight, as any other aluminum that gets brought in for recycling, and even a huge bag of them isn’t going to net very much money for that charity. > [@](#): > > “We field a hand full of phone calls a week, which isn’t problematic, but it does represent a lot of kind individuals who are still under the impression that pop-tabs will be a boon to the charity of their choice,” said Gattuso. “A lot of people put a lot of work into their collections, so watching or listening to their reactions when we explain the actual value of the long hours they put in can be heartbreaking. Sometimes it costs more in postage to mail them in than for what they’d actually net.” > > For most of us the opportunity cost of saving pull tabs, and even cans, would not pencil out with redemption rates and probably is not worth the time or drive to a recycling center. That’s not to say aluminum should not be recycled — it should, but expecting a cash payout for pull tabs or anything other than large volumes of aluminum will not likely bring a sizable return. > **[Fact-check Friday: Are Pull-tabs-For-Cash Programs Still a Thing?](https://thisisreno.com/2015/04/are-pull-tabs-for-cash-programs-still-a-thing/)** > > Reno's independent, online news and events source. Established in 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/4 "2024-12-06T19:01:28Z")
I’m skeptical as well, though there is someone I see on out-of-town assignments who has us save them for his work with the Shriners hospitals. Seems like it would be better to save the whole cans or just ask people for their spare change. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/5 "2024-12-06T19:20:49Z")
You people are too skeptical: From one of the FAQs: > It takes approximately 1,128 pop tabs to equal one pound. We typically receive between $0.40 to $0.50 per pound of pop tabs. > **[Ronald McDonald House Central Iowa: Ways to help](https://www.rmhdesmoines.org/get-involved/other-ways-to-help)** > > We have many other ways to help which include our pop tab and third party fundraising So estimate how much time it would take to collect 1,128 tabs (taking the tabs off, sorting, going to the collection point): say a couple hours? So this is 20 to 25 cents per hour for your time! And most of us have read those articles about people in the poorest countries living on less than $2/day… ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/6 "2024-12-06T19:21:52Z")
Here is a Snopes article about it. TL;DR, it started with the false urban legend that pull tabs could be redeemed for time on a dialysis machine. Later, Ronald McDonald house decided to capitalize on the fact that this urban legend wouldn’t die, and started accepting pull tab donations. But they’re worth very little, and almost any other type of collection for charity, such as the whole can, or cash, would be better. > **[Can Pull Tabs Be Exchanged for Time on Dialysis Machines?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pull-tab-recycling-dialysis/)** > > Rumor has it that pull tabs from aluminum cans have special redemption value for time on dialysis machines. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/7 "2024-12-06T19:49:25Z")
The Perfect Master speaks. > **[Will saving pull tabs earn free kidney dialysis for needy patients?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341843/will-saving-pull-tabs-earn-free-kidney-dialysis-for-needy-patients)** ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/8 "2024-12-06T20:00:21Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It’s not a hoax or a scam, per se, but there’s nothing magical about them, either. Pull tabs are only worth as much, by weight, as any other aluminum that gets brought in for recycling, and even a huge bag of them isn’t going to net very much money for that charity. Yep. Kinda a scam in that they arent worth crap in actuality. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/9 "2024-12-06T20:10:29Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Pull tabs are only worth as much, by weight, as any other aluminum that gets brought in for recycling I recall reading that the _tops_ of cans (including the pull tab) are made with a higher grade of aluminum vs. the rest of the can, and hence the material is worth more. Even then, I can’t imagine it would be worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/10 "2024-12-06T20:12:16Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I recall reading that the _tops_ of cans (including the pull tab) are made with a higher grade of aluminum vs the rest of the can, and hence the material is worth more. I’ve read the same thing from anonymous sources, but they can never provide an actual cite. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/11 "2024-12-06T20:13:04Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Pull tabs are only worth as much, by weight, as any other aluminum that gets brought in for recycling, and even a huge bag of them isn’t going to net very much money for that charity. Agreed, and it is a bother to do. I’d rather send them a check for fifty bucks instead. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/12 "2024-12-06T20:15:49Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I recall reading that the _tops_ of cans (including the pull tab) are made with a higher grade of aluminum vs. the rest of the can, and hence the material is worth more. Maybe so, but they pay you that same amount when redeeming. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/13 "2024-12-06T20:39:25Z")
Tell HR that whatever $ amount they pull in from collecting these pop tops that you’d generously like to match it. I’d say spending $1.25 to improve your image at work is money well spent. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/14 "2024-12-07T00:13:37Z")
**gnoitall** , thanks for locating that article from Cecil; you saved me the hassle. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/15 "2024-12-07T00:20:00Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > I got enough little chores, thank you very much. Why is this a chore for you? Did your HR say contributing your tabs is mandatory? ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/16 "2024-12-07T00:23:13Z")
I don’t understand how it’s even sort of a scam. If you don’t want to do, don’t do it? Who’s getting ripped off? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/17 "2024-12-07T01:07:51Z")
It isn’t so much a scam as it is therapeutic-people get involved and some actually help out for real. it is like when students wipe down the tables at school. They think they are helping out, but what is actually happening is that they are feeling more self-assured (I still have to wipe down everything after they leave.) The problem with the pull-tab “charity” is that too many people think they have done something useful, when they could be contributing something a bit more substantial. Who is getting ripped off? The company workers that have to smile and say “Good job!”, then waste their time turning the damn things in for less money then those workers get per hour. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/18 "2024-12-07T03:24:55Z")
I just don’t appreciate having to collect stuff when I know it’s bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/19 "2024-12-07T03:33:25Z")
Can’t you just not collect the pop tops? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266/20 "2024-12-07T03:43:17Z")
I’m not sure. Penalties for non-compliance have not been mentioned, but it’s hard to tell how serious they are about this. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pop-tops-from-soda-cans-scam/1011266.md?page=2)