How to Dispose of Clothes Hangers
- 1Disposal methods for clothes hangers vary significantly based on material: wire, plastic, wood, or composite blends.
- 2Vinyl-coated wire hangers from dry cleaners can be bundled together and disposed of in scrap metal recycling without stripping the vinyl (per Ministry of Environment guidelines), or returned to local dry cleaners for reuse.
- 3Most retail plastic hangers are molded from mixed composite resins ("OTHER") or bonded with steel hooks, making recycling sorting impossible; they must be discarded in municipal general trash bags.
- ✓Treated wooden hangers and velvet non-slip hangers are likewise non-recyclable and belong in general waste.
How to Dispose (5 Steps)
- 1
Step 1: Sort by material - Categorize hangers into vinyl-coated wire, pure single-resin plastic, treated wood, and multi-material composite (suit/pant hangers).
- 2
Step 2: Bundle wire laundry hangers - Do not peel vinyl coating; tightly tie 5–10 hangers with twine or wire and discard in scrap metal bins (or return undamaged hangers to local dry cleaners).
- 3
Step 3: Disassemble suit & clamp pant hangers - Detach metal swivel hooks and clamp springs into scrap metal bins; discard the remaining composite plastic frame in general trash.
- 4
Step 4: Dispose of bonded plastic & flocked non-slip hangers - Discard composite hangers, velvet-flocked hangers, and silicone non-slip hangers directly into municipal general trash bags.
- 5
Step 5: Dispose of wooden hangers - Discard varnish-treated wooden hangers in general trash bags (use heavy-duty PP rubble bags if clearing large commercial quantities).
Real-World Examples
Vinyl-coated dry cleaner wire hangers: Bundle ~10 units together for scrap metal recycling, or return to dry cleaner
Single-resin thin plastic hangers (marked PP/PE): Curbside plastic recycling after confirming resin code
Thick suit hangers with steel hooks: Separate hook to metal and frame to trash; discard whole in trash if inseparable
Velvet-flocked / non-slip rubberized hangers: 100% municipal general trash bag
Varnished solid wood suit hangers: 100% municipal general trash bag
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to peel off the vinyl plastic coating from dry cleaner wire hangers before recycling as scrap metal?
A. No, stripping the plastic sheath is unnecessary. Under Ministry of Environment guidelines, the thin vinyl coating vaporizes during industrial high-temperature smelting at steel mills. Simply bundle wire hangers tightly with twine or wire to prevent entanglement and drop them into curbside scrap metal bins.
Q. Why can't plastic clothing store hangers be recycled in regular plastic bins?
A. Retail clothing hangers are typically molded from mixed composite polymers (PS, ABS, PP) with unrated resin codes ('OTHER'), often reinforced with internal steel rods for structural stiffness. Automated recycling optical sorters reject mixed polymers as contaminants, redirecting them to landfills. They must be discarded in general waste bags.
Q. Do dry cleaners offer cash refunds or discounts for returning wire hangers?
A. Most independent neighborhood dry cleaners do not pay cash deposits, but they readily welcome clean, straight hangers to cut operating packaging overhead and promote circular zero-waste practices. Certain eco-conscious laundry chains or municipal recycling hubs offer reward points or free trash bags for returning bulk hangers.