Can you recycle plastic hangers?

Plastic hangers are not recyclable in your curbside bin. They're usually a mix of plastics (often unmarked or #6), and their shape and metal hooks jam the sorting machines. The best move is to reuse or donate them; otherwise they go in the black trash cart.

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Donate or return them

Dry cleaners, thrift stores, and consignment shops almost always take clean hangers back for reuse — that's the real "recycling" path. Many stores have a bin for them at customer service.

Why not the blue cart

Even a #-marked plastic hanger is the wrong size and shape for curbside sorting equipment, and the metal hook is a separate material. Putting them in recycling causes contamination, so they belong in the trash if you can't reuse them.

Wire and wood hangers

Wire hangers can go back to the dry cleaner or to a scrap-metal recycler. Wooden hangers aren't recyclable but are very reusable — donate them.

Plastic Hangers — quick FAQ

Can you recycle plastic hangers?

Not in the curbside cart — they're mixed plastics with metal hooks and jam the sorters. Donate or return them for reuse, or put them in the black trash cart.

Where can I get rid of plastic hangers?

Give clean ones back to a dry cleaner or drop them at a thrift/consignment store — most reuse them. That's better than recycling or trashing them.

Are wire hangers recyclable?

Wire hangers aren't accepted curbside, but you can return them to a dry cleaner or take a bundle to a scrap-metal recycler.

What do I do with wooden hangers?

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

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