Thanks hobo for sharing!!
I think how it all got started was that pop tabs was easy, "clean" recycling that long-lasting charities or whatever could do. No mess with drink residue, not a lot of bulk (or not a lot of wasted space at the buyer or in transport), and it didn't matter if it took a month or 6 months to fill a collection box because the folks/groups getting the money were generally always going to be around. My main non-ferrous guy used to offer a couple of cents more for pop tabs per pound. I just checked and tabs are about a third lower than straight cans.
But then the "myth" got started that pop tabs were worth a lot more than regular cans because maybe a few cases someone gave a break for charities (and wrote it off on their taxes) and everyone expected pop tabs to be high end value. Sure, then there's perhaps the crafters willing to pay a little more (and then may not) and so the pop tab craze got going. Maybe with Alum sort of taking a dump as well, the pop tab craze will be over.
But then myths die hard...
Bookmarks