Can you recycle coat hangers?

Coat hangers aren't accepted in curbside recycling, whatever they're made of — but they're easy to keep out of the landfill. Wire hangers can go back to a dry cleaner or to a scrap-metal recycler; plastic and wood hangers should be reused or donated, and go in the trash only as a last resort.

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Wire hangers

Dry cleaners almost always take clean wire hangers back for reuse — that's the easiest option. A bundle of wire hangers can also go to a scrap-metal recycling yard with other metal.

Plastic hangers

Plastic hangers are a mix of plastics with a metal hook, the wrong size and shape for curbside sorting — so they jam the machines. Donate or return them to a thrift or consignment store; trash them only if you can't reuse them.

Wooden hangers

Wooden hangers aren't recyclable but are sturdy and reusable — donate them to a thrift store.

Coat Hangers — quick FAQ

Can you recycle coat hangers?

Not in the curbside cart. Wire hangers go back to a dry cleaner or to a scrap-metal recycler; plastic and wooden hangers should be reused or donated, and trashed only as a last resort.

What do I do with wire hangers?

Return clean wire hangers to a dry cleaner, or take a bundle to a scrap-metal recycling yard — they're not accepted curbside.

Are plastic hangers recyclable?

No — they're mixed plastics with metal hooks that jam sorting equipment. Donate or reuse them, or put them in the trash.

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