Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Why people all over Alabama throw parties for pop tabs—start collecting now
Reading time: 4 minutes
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Twist, pop, plink—one more soda pop tab goes into a collection box for Ronald McDonald House Alabama, and the person who dropped it feels even better about their beverage.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a soda; it could be anything in a can, from sparkling water to energy drinks to beer. It’s the pop tabs that count, adding up to big bucks once recycled for cash, usually around $10,000 annually.
The money is then donated to cover needs at the House, where families with sick or injured children find a home away from home when their little ones receive care at nearby Birmingham hospitals.
Read on for details on the impact these tabs make, how to start a collection or drive and how to donate them.
Pop Tab Pandemonium 101
Pop Tab Pandemonium is a statewide contest for schools and community groups, challenging them to collect the most tabs for the largest donation and bragging rights for helping a great cause.
In 2025, Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald House Family Room provided:
❤️ 2,863 stays for families from across Alabama
❤️ 176 stays for families from 23 other states
❤️ 20,332 total nights families stayed together in comfort + care
The annual collection culminates in fun Pop Tab Parties at four McDonald’s locations throughout the state.
⭐️ Anyone can participate, regardless of whether you have kids in school or are part of a participating community group. You can take your collection to these groups directly to aid their efforts or simply plan to drop off your tabs at one of this year’s parties:
🕦 All events are from 11AM to 3PM. Pick a party + RSVP here.
Tips for collecting
Here are a few facts and guidelines to make your collecting and donating easy:
- Collect just the tabs and not whole cans, as they save space, weigh more + are most valuable
- Only aluminum cans are accepted, not those from canned food, which are usually steel
- Pack your tabs in zip-top bags, a sturdy box or containers with wide openings that empty easily
- Make it a team effort! Here’s where to register your organization: Schools | Community groups
- Visit the Pop Tab Program page for resources, including how-tos, flyers, collection stickers + container labels
More ways to donate tabs
While the Ronald McDonald House Alabama team would love to see you at one of the April Pop Tab Parties to take your donated tabs, if you can’t make it, here are a few more options.
🥰 For small collections that are fewer than 10 gallon-sized zip-top bags:
- Drop your tabs anytime at the wooden Pop Tab House located at the end of the driveway for Ronald McDonald House Alabama, 1700 4th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233.
- Find a local school or community group that is collecting + add yours to their collection.
😯 For larger collections that would potentially fill the trunk of a car:
- Coordinate to donate to a participating school or group in your area before the parties; or
- Donate the cash directly after taking your tabs to one of these recycling partners, then donate the cash directly:
🍻 One more fun way to participate:
- Many of the businesses in Birmingham’s stellar brewery scene participate in the annual Battle of the Breweries collection competition.
- Visit your faves + donate tabs there.
- Last year’s total amounted to hundreds of pounds cumulatively.
Now you have all the essential info, all that’s left to do is get poppin’!
Learn more about Ronald McDonald House Alabama at RonaldMcDonaldHouseAL.org.
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