To ask to rifle through your bin?

[fuzzypicklehead]

Sorry, I know this is a weird request, but it's for a good cause!

I work with this group for people with learning disabilities in Cambridge. They're collecting the ring pulls from beer and fizzy drink cans for a special project, and are appealing for help. So if you have a couple of cans in your house or recycle bin, and wouldn't mind taking off the ring pulls and posting them in, it would really help. If you write "Mumsnet" somewhere on the envelope, we'll pile them all up and take a photo to show you all how many we get and what we're about to do with them.

I've heard that there may have been scams about collecting ring pulls in the past, but I can verify that this is the real deal. It will cost you a stamp, but if you can spare it the guys would really appreciate it. If you visit the page, there's an "About Us" section where you can see some of the group members and their work too!

[StealthPolarBear]

Ok, where do I sedn them?
Whats the cut off? May as well stockpile a few

[StealthPolarBear]

Oh and if you're a weird ring pull troll you're welcome to them anyway :)

[ChippingInNeedsCoffee]

How do you get them off? These days they're welded to the can, not like the old ones?!

I don't get many but I'd be happy to send you any I have if I can remove them! When do you need them by?

[StealthPolarBear]

Bend bend bend bend spin round and pull :o

[ChippingInNeedsCoffee]

Stealth -

[ChippingInNeedsCoffee]

Well, that depends if they need whole or broken ones. I tried getting some off for a friends DC's school project, but no luck as they needed them 'whole'?!

[fuzzypicklehead]

Sorry, I forgot to say the cutoff date! We'll be collecting for the whole month of June and the address is on the link.

We generally get them off by twisting them around so that the ring pull is over the opening and then bend them back until they snap off. Even if they break, we can still use them!

[Sallyingforth]

Just out of interest, how are the ring pulls goin to be used? Is it some sort of construction or art project?
It can't be for the scrap value or you'd be wanting the whole cans.

[Sallyingforth]

(just read the link) So it's a secret then!

[ChippingInNeedsCoffee]

Ok - well if you can use broken ones as well, I'm in :)

I will ask friends to save them too, but sadly for you, none of us are very big 'can' drinkers!

[fuzzypicklehead]

I know, I almost never drink from a can. I've resorted to picking them up from the pavement while I do school run!

But there are a bazillion cool things to do with ring pulls, like jewellery, handbags, lamps... The group did these this past winter and they look awesome!

[fuzzypicklehead]

[HeadfirstForHalos]

I get through thousands a few cans of pop I'll send some on :)

[helenthemadex]

I will ask a friend who runs a cafe if she can collect them for you

[fuzzypicklehead]

Awesome! I knew the Might of Mumsnet would come through!

[HotSummerNights]

We're having a barbecue later so will get everyone to put theirs in a tub and I'll send them on.

[WenTheEternallySurprised]

I don't drink much soda but I'll put the word out to locals for you. :)

[Vagaceratops]

Did you not used to bend them back and forward and say the alphabet - then the letter it came off at was the initial of the boy you were going to marry.

We had a lush boy called Nick in our class - everyone used to try brute force on the N to get it off.

[fuzzypicklehead]

SPB- actually, I've become a bit of a ring pull troll. I look shiftily at the beverages of total strangers to gauge whether I can coax them into pulling off their ring pulls for me.

[ChaoticismyLife]

Both DD and I drink cans so I'll save them and send them on, I've already got 20+ from raiding the recycling box. Just remind me near the end of June so I don't forget.

[takingiteasy]

Will start collecting. Please remind me though because will at some point wonder why I've got a tub full of ring pulls in my kitchen!

[fuzzypicklehead]

Don't worry, I'll keep my on the thread and bump it for reminders!

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Do you have a poster? I'd be happy to stick one up at school for you.

[Apoundinatin]

DP drinks far too many cans of beer, at least this way I know something good will have come of it! I'll post some x

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

I'm sure I can gather a fair few, I have a fizzy drink habit

Many many years ago I did a placement at a day centre for adults with learning disabilities in Cambridge, It was a great place, can't for the life of me remember the name. I wonder if it's still there.....was near a big sainsburys.....