Georgia 4-H members have collected aluminum pop tabs to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia for the past 15 years.

The students need to collect 16,500 pounds of the tiny tabs by Nov. 5 to reach their goal — a total 15-year donation of $100,000.

"We need $6,442.18 to have donated $100,000 in the 15 years we have been collecting pop tabs," said Lori Bledsoe, Georgia 4-H Northwest District program coordinator. "We can make our $100,000 goal if we work together to recycle the pop tabs instead of throwing them away with the cans."

In 2002, middle school 4-H students in Georgia first had the idea to collect pop tabs, recycle them, and donate the proceeds to Ronald McDonald Houses.

One pound of aluminum equates to about 1,500 pop tabs.

"According to the EPA, making new aluminum cans from recycled ones saves 92 percent of the energy required when making cans from bauxite ore," Bledsoe said. "And, recycling also cuts down on waste."

Georgia 4-H rotates the donations each year across the RMH locations in Georgia. This year’s pop tabs will support the Augusta Ronald McDonald House.

Georgia 4-H members will bring their pop tabs to Junior Conference, a weekend retreat set for Rock Eagle 4-H Center. This year’s conference is set for Nov. 5-6.

The pop tab community service project is one of many that culminate each year at the youth conference.

To donate pop tabs, contact the local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Office in Pembroke at 912-653-2231.