Pop Tabs
Pop Tab Collect a Million Club Instructions
To many, a pop tab is just a piece of aluminum with one purpose - to open a can. But to the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana, the pop tab is a valuable resource. Why? Collected pop tabs are recycled, generating much-needed funds to support the House and the nearly 1,900 families we serve each year.
Thanks to generous school children, families, businesses, clubs, and churches, over one billion pop tabs have been donated in the 15 years since the program began, generating about $500,000 in pop tab revenue for the House.
Funds received from the recycling of tabs or donations made by groups recycling their tabs in their local communities are a significant source of annual revenue, totaling between $50,000 and $70,000 annually. The funds are applied to the operating expenses of the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana. The funds underwrite the approximate cost of operating three rooms for an entire year.
Who can participate?
People of all ages can participate in supporting the Ronald McDonald House by collecting pop tabs. Many schools support this project because it is easy and helps teach valuable math and recycling lessons. Families, churches, service organizations and businesses also participate as a way to show their support of the Ronald McDonald House and the families we serve. Collecting pop tabs is ideal for company break rooms, as an ongoing Scouting or school project or as a family activity. If your service club, business, school or youth group is looking for a project that is easy, engaging, and meaningful, consider our "Collect a Million" Club.
How do I get started?
It's easy. There is no formal registration required. Simply remove the pop tab from the aluminum can and put them in your favorite collection container. For a fun pop tab project, download a label and use it on a handy container you have at home or work or download a poster to display.
Unfortunately, the last of our pop tab boxes have been distributed and the cost of a reprint is simply too much. Please continue to collect tabs using your own recycled containers (boxes, plastic jugs, Ziploc baggies) and attaching the logo that is printable from this web page. Making this change will enable us to use the resources saved in a smarter way. It also benefits the environment by recycling and using again instead of making something new, thus creating more trash.
"Collect A Million" Club
Schools, businesses, clubs, and individuals interested in becoming a member of the "Collect-A-Million" club can click on the link at the top of the page to access information about how you can join the "Collect A Million" Club.
Where do I drop off my collected pop tabs?
- At the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana, located on the IUPUI campus on the corner of Michigan and Limestone Streets near downtown Indianapolis between 9 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. seven days a week. Call ahead if you would like to schedule a tour, if you have a very large quantity of tabs, or if you need assistance. Sorry, we can only accept tabs at the Ronald McDonald House, not entire cans.
- To any of our participating Recycling Centers, or to any convenient recycler near you. Just follow these simple steps:
- Deliver your tabs (remember that you may also collect the entire can, if you plan to deliver your aluminum to a recycling center).
- Ask that the check be made payable to the "Ronald McDonald House of Indiana."
- Write "pop tabs" on the check's memo line.
- Mail the check to Ronald McDonald House of Indiana, 435 Limestone Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Include your name and contact information, so we know where to send an acknowledgement.
- To any recycling center or scrap yard, if you do not live near one of our participating recycling centers. Just follow these simple steps:
- Deliver your tabs (remember that you may also collect the entire can, if you plan to deliver your aluminum to a recycling center).
- Ask the check be made payable to the "Ronald McDonald House of Indiana".
- Write "pop tabs" on the check's memo line.
- Mail to Ronald McDonald House of Indiana, 435 Limestone Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Include your name and contact information, so we know where to send an acknowledgement.
- To almost any Central Indiana McDonald's Restaurant. Check with your nearby McDonald's to see if they accept pop tabs. (The vast majority of them do.) If so, just drop them off at the counter or when you go through the Drive-Thru.
- To our 7th Annual Pop Tab Drop on Monument Circle, on Aug. 5, 2011. Look for more information here as we aim to collect another enormous quantity of tabs in a short period of time on the Circle in downtown Indianapolis.
To receive more information about the pop tab program, please contact Kelly Thien, Communications and Marketing Manager at (317)269-2247 ext. 207 or by e-mail at kthien@rmh-indiana.org.