Ring Pulls 25 September 2019 at 4:06PM in Charities 7 replies 6.9K views

ChristinaW

Hi,

Does anyone know of any charities that are collecting the ring pulls from soft drinks cans?

My work have started collecting them.

Thanks

Christina

foxtrotoscar_2

ChristinaW wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone know of any charities that are collecting the ring pulls from soft drinks cans?

My work have started collecting them.

Thanks

Christina

Why? It's one small part of an aluminium can...it's never going to be cost effective to collect or buy.

Katiehound

Yes!!
I met someone earlier this year whose local group ( Rotary ) collected ring pulls to export to a craft group abroad as they use them in bracelets, bags etc by crotcheting them together.

a quick Google produced this:
https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=745547&ClubID=2204

and this:
"We need your ring pulls! We recycle the ring pulls from cans of drink into a range of eco-fashion handbags, clothing and accessories. You can collect on your own or with a group of friends; we need as many ring pulls as you can collect!
Get Involved - Purple Community Fund

Full details here:
https://www.p-c-f.org/get-involved/upcycle/

Collect 2kg. Worth 3pence per pull

forgotmyname

The ring pulls are pure aluminium unlike the actual can section which will contain a plastic coating to the inside and the printed label on the outside which contaminates the aluminium.

safewood

ChristinaW wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone know of any charities that are collecting the ring pulls from soft drinks cans?

My work have started collecting them.

Thanks

Christina

Where are you?

I can't remember seeing any ring pulls on any cans since the end of the last century anywhere within Europe.

They seem to have been universally replaced by a 'sta-tab' which is designed to remain on the can ofter opening to reduce littering and improve safety.

I was in China last year, and was surprised to see ring pulls were still in use on some cans there - first time I had seen one in over 20 years!

safewood

forgotmyname wrote: »

The ring pulls are pure aluminium unlike the actual can section which will contain a plastic coating to the inside and the printed label on the outside which contaminates the aluminium.

The ring pull I saw in China definitely had a plastic coating.
And I'm examining a sta-tab right now, and am able to confirm it too has a very thin plastic coating.

I guess it's to protect the contents of the can coming into direct contact with metal, and so ensure the contents remain safe for consumption for prolonged periods - the usual purpose of canning foodstuffs in the first place

antenna

I recycled many hundreds of tonnes of Ali cans and ring pulls when I was regional manager of Cash a Can a company owned by Alcoa,the Aluminium Company of America.
The ring pull was worth about 100th of a penny and the Ali can 40p per kilo.
The scheme was mainly to promote aluminium over steel for the manufacturing of cans
As it was 100 times more valuable than steel cans,recycling was worth it to collectors.
By promoting the aluminium can it was good for Alcoa's worldwide business

antenna

There was a promotion on certain beer cans that if you collected 10 specific ring pulls and sent them back they would send you a crisp £1 note.
We had an endless supply of ring pulls and spent many a happy hour sorting 100 at a time to send back to receive £10 .........I think the statute of limitations now puts me and my staff in the clear.