No Need to Throw Used Hangers in the Trash
Due to plastic sheeting and toxic chemicals, dry cleaning clothes can be wasteful . Chances are, you will have a surplus of wire hangers, which will also run into debris after a day’s use.
As a rule, hangers are difficult to dispose of due to their inconvenient shape; they can easily confuse equipment in recycling plants, causing delays for workers who have to manually remove every obstacle. For this reason, you probably wo n’t be able to throw them in the trash can as part of your roadside program – but that doesn’t mean you should throw them away for now. Depending on the specific type, there are several alternative solutions to the replacement hanger problem.
You may be able to recycle wire hangers
First, let’s take a quick look at each type of common hanger, including plastic, wood, and wire. According to Recycle Bank , most plastic hangers are made from # 6 plastic ( polystyrene , which is also found in CD boxes or cups) or # 7 plastic (polycarbonate, which can also be found in water-cooled jugs). Due to the fact that they are made of plastic, shape and size, it is unlikely that you can recycle them at all. It is also unlikely that you will be able to recycle wooden hangers as they are often treated with varnish or other type of finish making them difficult to reuse.
Wire hangers are also generally non-recyclable and can be particularly problematic for recycling equipment. However, there are exceptions. In New York City, you can throw wire hangers in the trash can as part of the city’s curbside program. You can also ship wire hangers in bulk to your nearest scrap metal recycling plant, as they are made of valuable steel.
Reuse old hangers or take them to a dry cleaner.
For any type of hanger, consider reusing them first; You can easily use them in a towel or dish hanger if you are interested in a simple DIY project.
However, if you want to get rid of them once and for all, you should search the Internet for the rules of your local roadside recycling program and see if they accept wire, wood, or metal hangers to be sure. (For wire hangers, use the Earth 911 locator to find local scrap recyclers who can accept them; search for “metal clothes hangers” and your zip code.)
If your search results are dry, do one of the following: ask your local dry cleaner if they accept used hangers (bring a clothes bag to avoid plastic wrap waste if you also throw clothes). You should also look online for organizations such as shelters that can accept donation hangers. According to Keep It Out of the Landfill , Target also accepts plastic and metal hangers for reuse, but only hangers for their own stores.
And in the future, generally reconsider buying these flimsy plastic hangers. Wooden hangers are usually more durable and last longer than regular plastic hangers. And ditch the hangers if they are ever offered to you in stores – you will save yourself the headache associated with the need to dispose of them altogether.