There is a widespread misconception that you cannot recycle plastic hangers since many household plastic collection facilities cannot handle and recycle them.
Contrary to popular belief, you may recycle plastic hangers. It would be best if you always used recyclable plastic hangers.
In What Way Do Plastic Hangers Serve a Function?
Polystyrene and polypropylene are the most common materials for plastic hangers.
Colored plastics are also widely used in the market; however, transparent plastics are also available, like the ones used for clothing bags.
The primary goal of utilizing them is mainly to prevent wrinkles and damage to clothing caused by folding.
Closets, dry cleaners, and department stores are all places where you’ll find plastic hangers, which you may use to hang clothes.
Your closet or wardrobe size determines the number of plastic hangers you’ll require.
One big plastic garment hanger is sufficient to hang one jacket or shirt with slacks below for an average adult male.
A youngster may only need two little ones when it comes to clothes, but an ordinary lady may need six medium-sized ones which are lighter than wood.
If we remember that plastics are recyclable, we may prevent the problem of plastics ending up in landfills when we no longer require them as consumers.
Are Hangers Recyclable?
Hangers are an often-overlooked yet vital part of any wardrobe or garment organization system.
Hangers have never gone out of style, no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves otherwise.
Hangers may be made of a surprising variety of materials. Plastic, steel, wire, and wood are the most commonly used materials.
They’re also available in various colors and patterns, so you may mix and match them to suit your style.
You can’t expect your hangers to last forever. Either they spoil or outlast their usefulness is the most likely scenario. In any case, you will have to get rid of them. It is time to think about hangers and their lifecycle.
One of the most likely topics to come up is recycling. Clothes hangers are another possible candidate for this popular activity.
There are specific hangers that you can recycle, but others can’t be recycled. Relax, if you are thinking about this at all. We will get to the point.
Hangers, as previously mentioned, exist in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials.
Furthermore, the likelihood of your coat hangers being recycled heavily relies on the aforementioned variables.
You will also have to consider the recycling center’s regulations and limitations. Since many recycling centers may refuse to accept hangers, this is an excellent precaution.
We aim to convey the idea that you can not recycle all hangers. It would be best to examine a hanger before choosing whether or not to recycle it.
You should also find out if the recycling facility accepts the hanger. Only then will you know the answer to your question.
What Is the Problem with Plastic Hangers?
Polystyrene and polycarbonate are the most common materials used to create plastic clothing hangers, with a recycling number of six and seven, respectively.
The plastics in this class are of poor quality.
It is possible that buying new ones will be less expensive than recycling old ones.
Secondly, manufacturers use a variety of polymers to produce these plastic coat hangers, making it difficult for recycling sorting facilities to distinguish between recyclable and non-recyclable plastics.
As a result, they are often not taken into consideration. Pollution is caused by millions of outdated plastic hangers being thrown away. Toxic chemicals are discharged into the environment when these hangers are disposed of in landfills.
These plastic coat hangers might take up to 1,000 years to degrade, much like plastic bags and other plastic products.
What’s the Biggest Issue with Coat Hangers?
According to estimates, thirty million hangers are thrown away every day by clothing and department retailers.
Indeed, plastic hangers are not the most pressing issue facing the fashion business, but they are significant.
If you are interested in learning more about fast fashion’s environmental ramifications or how to dispose of old clothing properly, check out the resources online on Google.
To save time at the store, single-use hangers are all that are needed.
There are no creases in the clothing so they can be handed over to the merchants immediately. You can reduce transport expenses by using these inexpensive plastic hangers. Wooden or plastic hangers are frequently used in place of the flimsy metal ones in stores.
Eighty-five percent of these temporary hangers are projected to be disposed of in a landfill.
Why Not Use Your Old Hangers for Something Else?
The First Step
Look for a recycling number on your old tube-type home hangers. The number six recycling sign, Polystyrene, is the most common material used to make tube plastic hangers.
Styrofoam is a significant contributor to the difficulty of recycling this form of plastic, as it is not extensively recycled. On the other hand, most hangers do not bear any recycling marks.
Depending on your local recycling program, you may be allowed to discard your old hangers in the regular recycling.
If your recycling district cannot recycle your hanger and you leave it for them, it may still be sent to the landfill.
The Second Step
Examine any discarded store plastic hangers you may have. Polystyrene is also used extensively in constructing these hangers’ plastic components.
You cannot recycle metal hangers unless they are separated from their other parts before entering your recycling bin.
Remove it with a pair of pliers, but be prepared to break off some of the plastic.
The Third Step
Retail hangers may be recycled using TerraCycle.
Upcycling (creating better materials from discarded goods) and recycling various products, such as hangers and juice pouches, keep them from ending up in landfills.
TerraCycle is a firm that does this. You may find a collection station near you and volunteer to serve as a host.
The Fourth Step
Don’t stockpile plastic hangers that you do not need.
Hand back the hanger to the sales clerk when you have purchased your clothing so that the retail business may use it for future purchases.
It is also more environmentally friendly to use wooden hangers at home, as they are more durable and may be used as firewood.
The Fifth Step
Use FreeCycle or Craigslist to distribute coat hangers. Nursing homes, thrift shops, and churches that do garment drives are good options for donating hangers
Wood Hangers: Is There a Way to Recycle Them?
The wood hanger is the next on our list of hangers. Is it possible to recycle them as well? No, that is not correct! It is hard to recycle wooden hangers.
This is because manufacturers apply varnish and other finishing materials to the wood. Because you can’t recycle such materials, you can’t recycle wood hangers.
Donating old hangers to thrift stores or charitable groups is another option, as is reusing them.
What Do You Do with Metal Hangers?
Even if you are persuaded that your old metal hangers have outlived their usefulness despite the suggested alternatives, it is completely alright to discard them.
We will show you how to get rid of those old metal hangers the right way. Metal hangers can be disposed of in a variety of ways.
If a metal hanger is suitable, then these possibilities are available.
We have got the answer:
Make a Charitable Donation
If the metal hanger is serviceable and in proper shape, you can do this.
You need to place them in the local collection bin, over the counter, or ask the organizations to come and pick them up.
Give Them to Your Dry Cleaner
Because they are so helpful, you could hand them over to your local dry cleaner.
Toss Them into the Washing Machine
If you prefer to reuse them, you may take them to your local laundromat for thorough washing and subsequent usage.
Donate to Freecycle.com
On the other hand, you may also post it on Freecycle and give it away.
They ensure that you will put your money to good use
Throw Them in the Garbage
Finally, you may not be able to use your old metal hangers.
And if you are sure they will serve no purpose in the future, feel free to throw them away.
Wrapping Up
As long as people need hangers to hang their clothes, they will stay relevant.
Hanger recycling will continue to be an alternative for environmental management as long as hangers are relevant.
You now know everything you need to know about hanger recycling and other options for reusing them. We have also spoken about getting rid of them once they have served their purpose.
Because of this, you have the opportunity to make an educated decision on how to manage your hangers.
Consider all of your possibilities, and then choose the one that will have the most significant positive impact on the planet.
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