Alexei Volkov
Plastic coat hangers are recyclable, but many domestic plastic collection facilities are unable to process them. This has led to the misconception that plastic hangers cannot be recycled. Retailers are increasingly offering collection points for hangers at the point of purchase, which helps to keep hangers out of landfills and reduce the need for new hangers to be produced.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are plastic coat hangers recyclable in the UK? | Yes, plastic coat hangers are recyclable in the UK. |
| Plastic hanger colour | The colour of the plastic hanger does not matter. |
| Plastic hanger recycling symbol | Plastic hangers are usually made of polystyrene, which has the number six as a recycling symbol. |
| Metal parts | If your community recycles plastic hangers with number six, you need to remove the metal parts of the hanger before adding them to the recycle bin. |
| Plastic hanger recycling options | Some retailers have recycling points in stores or car parks. |
| Plastic hanger recycling at home | Depending on your local recycling program, you can or cannot put plastic hangers in the recycling bin. Check your local recycling policy. |
| Plastic hanger recycling at the retailer | Having a system for collecting hangers at the Point-of-Purchase (POP) means customers do not take clothes or shoe hangers home with them. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic coat hangers are recyclable
The colour of the plastic hanger does not impact its recyclability, despite common misconceptions. Black plastic hangers, for example, are made from recycled plastic, and can be recycled and reused within a retailer's closed-loop recycling scheme. Using recycled plastic for hangers can lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions compared to using new plastic.
To recycle plastic hangers, you can check if your local retailers have a system in place for collecting hangers at the point-of-purchase (POP). This means that customers leave the hangers at the store, giving retailers full control over the lifecycle of the plastic hangers. Some retailers are also providing recycling points in-store or in their car parks.
If you are unable to recycle your plastic hangers, consider reusing them or donating them to a charity shop or clothing donation centre.
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Retailers are responsible for plastic hanger recycling
Plastic coat hangers cannot be recycled through conventional recycling methods. Their odd shape and sharp edges mean they often get stuck in recycling machinery, causing downtime and making the process less economical. They are also often made from polystyrene, which is not widely recycled.
However, some retailers are now paying attention to the recycling of plastic hangers. Some collect hangers at the point of purchase, meaning customers leave the hangers at the store, giving the retailer control over the lifecycle of the hanger. Other retailers offer recycling programs, encouraging customers to return hangers for reuse or recycling.
Retailers should consider implementing such programs, as they can help ensure plastic hangers are recycled properly. By collecting hangers at the point of purchase, retailers can prevent hangers from being disposed of incorrectly, such as being thrown in the trash, where they will end up in landfills. Retailers can also encourage customers to bring in hangers from other stores for recycling or reuse, helping to reduce the number of hangers that are wasted.
Additionally, retailers can promote the use of more sustainable alternatives, such as wooden hangers, which last longer than plastic ones. Retailers can also work with specialized recycling companies, like TerraCycle, which can recycle hangers and other hard-to-recycle plastic items. By taking responsibility for plastic hanger recycling, retailers can play a crucial role in reducing plastic waste and making a positive impact on the environment.
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Domestic recycling facilities struggle with plastic hangers
Plastic coat hangers are recyclable, but many domestic plastic collection facilities in the UK are unable to handle and recycle them. This has led to the misconception that plastic hangers cannot be recycled. The inability of domestic plastic collection facilities to handle plastic hangers is due to the unique shape of hangers, which can cause them to get caught in other materials and create clumps, leading to downtime and reduced economical efficiency in the recycling process.
The traditional optical system used by Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) also struggles to recognise and sort black plastic hangers, which has contributed to the misconception that black plastic cannot be recycled. However, black plastic hangers are, in fact, recyclable and can be recycled and reused within a retailer closed-loop recycling scheme.
To address the challenges faced by domestic recycling facilities, some retailers are implementing collection points at the Point-of-Purchase (POP), where customers can leave their hangers instead of taking them home. This approach gives retailers more control over the lifecycle of plastic hangers and can lead to a more consistent and efficient recycling process. Additionally, some retailers are trialling recycling schemes for soft plastics, which can include plastic hangers.
While domestic recycling facilities may struggle with plastic hangers, there are alternative options for responsible disposal. Consumers can check with their local recycling programs to see if plastic hangers are accepted. Some communities may have specific requirements, such as removing metal parts from hangers before placing them in the recycling bin. Consumers can also return hangers to retailers or donate them to goodwill or clothing donation centres, ensuring they stay out of landfills.
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Black plastic hangers are recyclable
Despite common misconceptions, black plastic hangers are recyclable. In fact, all plastic hangers are recyclable, regardless of their colour. The misconception that black plastic cannot be recycled stems from the inability of domestic plastic collection facilities to handle it. This is because the traditional optical system used by Material Recycling Facilities (MRF) doesn't recognise black plastic and therefore can't sort it.
While there are options to reuse and recycle plastic hangers from home, passing the responsibility from consumers to retailers is the best option for a more consistent and efficient recycling process. An ideal solution for retailers is to have a system in place for collecting hangers at the Point-of-Purchase (POP), meaning customers do not take hangers home with them.
Some recycling centres are equipped to handle wire hangers, but they are few and far between. If you have wire hangers, you can try bringing them to a local dry cleaner to see if they can reuse them, or take them to a local scrap metal recycling centre.
Plastic hangers with metal clips and parts, or those made with multiple types of plastics, cannot be recycled. This is because the plastics are unable to be separated, and the metal parts make them difficult to recycle. Even if a hanger is made of just one type of plastic, the material cannot be easily identified, so most hangers end up in landfills.
To address this issue, an efficient recycling programme for retailers can process multiple types of hangers and materials. These facilities automatically shred, sort, and wash these materials, providing a clean source of recycled material that can be used repeatedly. The output of these "plastic granules" is invaluable and can be used to manufacture various products, including new hangers.
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Plastic hanger recycling reduces CO2 emissions
In the UK, it is unclear whether plastic coat hangers can be recycled with your regular household recycling collection and processing system. One source suggests that they cannot be recycled this way, as they get caught in other things and create huge clumps of material, causing downtime and making recycling less economical. However, another source suggests that you can recycle plastic coat hangers, but you need to check with your local council's recycling program first. For example, some local recycling facilities and organisations, such as TerraCycle, recycle the number six category of plastics.
Recycling plastic hangers can reduce CO2 emissions in two key ways. Firstly, recycling plastic waste significantly reduces carbon emissions by around 42% compared to conventional plastic production. This is because recycling plastic waste with 100% xylene recovery lowers the carbon footprint. Secondly, a closed-loop reuse system, where no hanger are disposed of and are instead recycled, can result in emissions that are 76% less than manufacturing new hangers with virgin materials and 70% less than manufacturing new hangers with recycled plastic.
Additionally, reusing plastic hangers can keep them out of landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to degrade and leach carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and bisphenol-A (BPA) into the soil and groundwater supply.
However, it is important to note that recycling plastic can be both labour and resource-intensive, with comparable pollutive and carbon impacts to the first time plastic is manufactured. The best option is to avoid buying plastic hangers or any new plastic goods, opting for more sustainable alternatives such as wooden, bamboo, or cardboard hangers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic coat hangers are recyclable in the UK. However, many domestic plastic collection facilities are unable to handle and recycle them, so it is worth checking your local recycling policy.
You can check your local recycling policy to see if plastic hangers can be put in your recycling bin. If not, some retailers have recycling points in stores or car parks where you can recycle plastic hangers.
By recycling plastic, we can reduce energy consumption and divert plastic from landfill, incineration, and ocean plastic.
