Can aluminum can tabs REALLY save lives?

I'm a believer in creating as little trash as reasonably possible: I recycle. I donate items to charity and/or consign them. I save empy toilet paper and paper towel rolls to give to a my children's preschool for crafts projects. And, as I wrote yesterday, I reuse worn-out cloth items by cutting them into rags. But what about aluminum can tabs? Can they really be redeemed for dialysis and cancer treatments?

Of course not. If they could, wouldn't we ALL have a big collection of them? I mean, who wouldn't want to take part in saving the life of a family member, friend, or a friend of a friend of a friend? The fact of the matter, according to Snopes, is that the tabs have no more scrap metal value than the rest of the can. (One hundred tabs = approximately 3.5 cents scrap metal value).

So, these tabs do have a little value but not much. Is it at all worthwhile to collect them? According to the Ronald McDonald House Charities website, some local RMH chapters collect them and sell them to recycling centers them to help offset costs for families who use the Houses. If by chance you have a stash of tabs or are interested in collecting them, call your local RMHC chapter to see if they accept tabs.

You might wonder why they accept the tabs but not the whole can. After all, it seems that more aluminum would mean more money to raise. It's actually a matter of sanitation. Those empty cans can get kind of nasty after a few weeks in a plastic bag. Tabs, on the other hand, are easier to store and don't get stinky after sitting around for a while. It really has nothing to do about the tabs being made of a purer form of aluminum than the rest of the can (again, according to Snopes).

But if you are feeling especially creative and productive, do a Google image search for aluminum tab crafts. There are some really cool ideas out there! I wish I had thought of them.