Pop Top Collection Program

Collect Pop Tops at home, work, and in your community!

What is a pop top?
A pop top is the piece of metal that opens aluminum cans, like the ones found on soda cans. Many other products like pet food and canned fruits and vegetables, use a tab system but might not be made of aluminum. A good rule of thumb to follow if you want to collect tabs from other products is – if you put a magnet near the pop tops they should not be attracted to it. If they are, they are not aluminum.

Why collect pop tops?
Pop top collections add up to make an impact in providing temporary housing and support services for families of pediatric patients. The value of the pop tops goes up and down throughout the year. But it all adds up to precious dollars that help the RMHC Richmond fulfill our mission!
We currently receive about 0.50¢ per pound of pop tops. The program is an easy way for people of all ages to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond and know they are making a difference for families and children.

Why not collect the entire can?
Pop tops are easier to clean and collect than cans, enabling our House to handle large volumes with less storage space. And most of the value of the entire can is right there in that little tab!

How does it work?
You may use any clean container to collect pop tops. Any wide mouth container works well so the pop tops can be poured out easily. When you’re ready to make a donation, just stop by the House and we’ll take care of the rest. Download a Pop Top Label to be put on your containers or check out our Pop Top Flyer.

What happens after I drop off the pop tops?
Once we have received enough tabs to fill two 32 gallon bins we take them to our recycling partner, United Scrap Metal. Did you know it takes 1,267 pop tops to make one pound?

To drop off your pop tops, please visit the Ronald McDonald House at 2330 Monument Ave, Richmond, VA 23220.

School Pop Top Challenge

We just wrapped up the School Pop Top Challenge for the 2023-2024 school year, but look forward to running it again next year! Stay tuned for information about how you can sign up for the 2024-2025 school year and encourage your school to collect pop tops throughout the year.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call our House at 804-355-6517.