Sofia Martinez
Plastic hangers are a common household item, but many people are unaware that they can be recycled. In Palm Beach County, residents are encouraged to recycle correctly to reduce waste and preserve natural resources. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) provides recycling services and has listed over 200 locations where residents can bring their recyclables. While plastic containers of less than 2 gallons with markings #1 through #7 are recyclable in the county, it is unclear whether plastic hangers fall into this category. To properly dispose of plastic hangers, it is recommended to check with local recycling centers or drop them off at scrap yards or dry cleaners.
Are plastic hangers recyclable in Palm Beach?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic hangers can be recycled at | Scrap yards, dry cleaners, curbside bins (if your local program encourages it), Target stores |
| Plastic containers less than 2 gallons are recyclable in Palm Beach County | Yes |
| Plastic hangers can be recycled in the blue bin | No |
| Plastic hangers can damage | Equipment at the recycling plant |
| Plastic items that cannot be recycled | Plastic bags, hoses, PVC, straps, large plastic items such as kid pools and patio furniture, cling film, blister packaging, plastic-coated wrapping paper, composite plastic, bioplastics, and polycarbonate |
| Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County | Has a listing of more than 200 locations where Palm Beach County residents can bring their recyclables |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic hangers are not accepted in single-stream recycling bins
- Plastic hangers can be recycled at scrap yards or dry cleaners
- Palm Beach County has a dual-stream recycling program
- Plastic containers under 2 gallons are recyclable in Palm Beach County
- The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County has a listing of locations for recyclables
Plastic hangers are not accepted in single-stream recycling bins
In Palm Beach, the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) has a dual-stream recycling program, offering 18-gallon blue and yellow recycle bins and 25-gallon blue recycle cans for residents with curbside collection. The blue bins are for plastic bottles and containers with lids on, 2 gallons or less; cans, food and beverage; glass bottles and jars with no lids; and cartons for milk and juice. The yellow bins are for cardboard, cut and flattened to 36x36” or less; newspapers and inserts with no plastic bags; office and school paper; mail; magazines; and dry food boxes with no food stains.
Plastic hangers are not listed as an acceptable item for either bin. The SWA does, however, accept a number of other common recyclables placed in the blue and yellow recyclable bins at one of their seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
If you are unsure about whether something is recyclable, you can search the Disposal Database at https://swa.org/378/Is-This-Recyclable or contact the SWA's Customer Information Services department.
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Plastic hangers can be recycled at scrap yards or dry cleaners
Plastic hangers cannot be recycled in your household recycling bin. They can, however, be recycled at scrap yards or dry cleaners near you.
Palm Beach County has a robust recycling program, with over 200 locations where residents can bring their recyclables. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) provides 18-gallon blue and yellow recycle bins and 25-gallon blue recycle cans for residents with curbside collection. The SWA has a dual-stream recycling program, which means that only certain items can be processed in each bin. Plastic bottles and containers with a capacity of less than 2 gallons and marked with a number between 1 and 7 are recyclable in Palm Beach County. Plastic containers such as takeout containers, laundry detergent jugs, soda bottles, yogurt cups, butter tubs, and disposable party cups are all examples of recyclable items.
However, wire or plastic hangers should not be placed in the blue recycling bin as they can jam the equipment at the recycling plant and cause significant damage. Instead, you can drop off your plastic hangers at scrap yards or dry cleaners in your area that accept them for recycling. Many dry cleaners frequently accept clothing hangers for reuse or recycling.
Additionally, some stores, such as Target, have initiatives to recycle plastic hangers. Target, for example, recycles plastic hangers as part of its Recycling Initiative and uses the material to create plastic flower pots and other gardening supplies. You can leave your hangers at such stores when you purchase clothing if you no longer need them.
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Palm Beach County has a dual-stream recycling program
Palm Beach County has a comprehensive dual-stream recycling program, ranking fourth in the state for its recycling efforts. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) provides residents with 18-gallon blue and yellow recycle bins and 25-gallon blue recycle cans for those with curbside collection. The dual-bin system has helped to lower processing costs and increase revenue from the resulting bales of recycled materials.
The SWA has a listing of more than 200 locations where Palm Beach County residents can bring their recyclables, with most locations accepting paper and cardboard in yellow dumpsters. The SWA also accepts other common recyclables in blue and yellow bins at its seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
The blue bins are for:
- Plastic bottles and containers with lids on and less than 2 gallons in size
- Food and beverage cans
- Glass bottles and jars without lids
- Milk and juice cartons with lids
- Drink boxes (no pouches)
The yellow bins are for:
- Cardboard, cut and flattened to 36x36” or less
- Newspapers and inserts (no plastic bags)
- Office and school paper
- Magazines
- Dry food boxes (no food stains)
- Paper bags
- Cardboard paper rolls
- Pizza box tops (not the greasy bottom)
Items that should not be placed in either bin include plastic bags, foam products, aluminum foil or pans, shredded paper, plastic eating utensils or straws, paper plates, paper towels or napkins, coat hangers, light bulbs, and needles. These items can endanger waste workers or damage the recycling facility.
Plastic hangers, in particular, can jam equipment at recycling plants and are not accepted in single-stream recycling bins. However, some recycling companies and local dry cleaners may accept them for reuse or recycling.
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Plastic containers under 2 gallons are recyclable in Palm Beach County
Plastic containers under 2 gallons can be placed in the blue bins provided by the SWA. It is important to ensure that these containers are empty and have their lids on before placing them in the blue bins. Examples of acceptable plastic containers include plastic bottles, restaurant takeout containers, laundry detergent jugs, soda bottles, yogurt cups, butter tubs, and disposable party cups. These containers should have a top marking of #1 through #7 to indicate that they are recyclable.
It is worth noting that plastic hangers are not accepted in the blue bins. Plastic hangers can cause damage to recycling equipment and are therefore not suitable for single-stream recycling. Instead, plastic hangers can be dropped off at curbside bins if your local program allows it, taken to scrap yards, or recycled at dry cleaners.
The SWA provides a Disposal Database on their website, where residents can search for specific items and find out if they are recyclable. Additionally, the SWA has a listing of over 200 locations where residents can bring their recyclables, with most locations accepting paper and cardboard in yellow dumpsters.
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The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County has a listing of locations for recyclables
The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) has a listing of locations for recyclables. The SWA has a dual-stream recycling program that offers 18-gallon blue and yellow recycle bins and 25-gallon blue recycle cans for residents with curbside collection. The blue bins are for plastic bottles and containers with lids on, 2 gallons or less; cans, food and beverage; glass bottles and jars without lids; cartons, milk and juice with lids on; and drink boxes (no pouches). The yellow bins are for cardboard, cut and flattened to 36x36" or less; newspapers and inserts without plastic bags; office and school paper; mail; magazines; and dry food boxes without food stains.
The SWA has a website with a list of more than 200 locations where Palm Beach County residents can bring their oversized cardboard recyclables. Most locations only accept paper and cardboard in yellow dumpsters. However, the SWA accepts other common recyclables placed in the blue and yellow recyclable bins at one of their seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers. You can find your nearest location on their website.
It is important to note that plastic hangers cannot be recycled in the blue cart or single-stream recycling bin as they can jam and damage equipment at the recycling plant. Instead, you can drop off plastic hangers at curbside bins if your local program encourages it, or recycle them at scrap yards or dry cleaners near you. Some stores, like Target, also offer to recycle plastic hangers as part of their recycling initiatives.
The SWA also has a Disposal Database on their website, where you can search to see if something is recyclable. Additionally, the SWA has adopted the state's 75% recycling goal, and Palm Beach County residents have been commended for their recycling efforts, with more than 80,000 tons of material recycled in one fiscal year.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic hangers cannot be recycled in the blue bin provided by the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) as they will jam equipment at the recycling plant. However, some recycling companies do accept plastic hangers, so check with your local recycling center. You can also recycle them at scrap yards or at dry cleaners near you.
The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) is a recycling program that is available to all residents of the county. It has a dual-stream recycling program that offers 18-gallon blue and yellow recycle bins and 25-gallon blue recycle cans for residents with curbside collection.
The blue bin is for plastic bottles and containers with lids on, 2 gallons or less; cans, food and beverage; glass bottles and jars with lids off; cartons, milk, and juice with lids on; and drink boxes (no pouches).
The yellow bin is for cardboard, cut and flattened to 36x36” or less; newspapers and inserts (no plastic bags); office and school paper; mail; magazines; and dry food boxes (no food stains).
