Sofia Martinez
Plastic hangers are a common household item, but what should you do with them when you no longer need them? With the fashion industry's focus on garment waste, the environmental impact of plastic hangers is often overlooked. As plastic hangers are made from multiple types of plastics, they cannot be easily recycled and often end up in landfills, contributing to plastic pollution. To reduce waste, it is recommended to reuse plastic hangers and explore sustainable alternatives. For those looking to dispose of plastic hangers, options include donating to thrift stores, homeless shelters, or local businesses that can reuse them.
What to do with plastic hangers?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reuse | Reuse the hangers you already have at home. |
| Donate | Offer them to a local thrift store, homeless shelter, nursing home, or theater (for costumes). |
| Recycle | Plastic hangers cannot be recycled curbside, but some stores have recycling programs and will take back their hangers to be reused or recycled. |
| Refuse | Avoid taking hangers being given away at stores. |
| Repurpose | Use them for crafts. |
| Reduce | Swap plastic hangers for paper or another sustainable material. |
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What You'll Learn
Donate to thrift stores, homeless shelters, nursing homes, or theatres
If you have plastic hangers that you no longer need, consider donating them to a local thrift store, homeless shelter, nursing home, or theatre. Thrift stores and homeless shelters are always in need of donations, and these organisations can put your old hangers to good use. Theatres, too, can make use of plastic hangers to store costumes.
You can also ask friends, family, or neighbours if they need any extra hangers. Donating your hangers to people you know is an easy way to ensure they are being reused and helps to reduce waste.
If you're looking to be more sustainable, you can also try to repair your hangers if they are broken, or reuse them in a different way. For example, you could use them for a craft project, such as a wire hanger wreath.
Finally, if you're looking to buy new hangers, consider purchasing ones made from recycled plastic, FSC-certified paper, bamboo, or plant-based bioplastics.
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Reuse them for crafts
There are many ways to reuse plastic hangers for crafts. One idea is to cut them into pieces and use them as weaving looms. You can create beautiful woven art pieces or even small rugs for your home. All you need is some yarn or string and a pair of scissors. Cut the plastic hanger into strips lengthwise, leaving the hook intact. These strips will serve as your warp threads. Decide on the desired width of your weaving and cut enough strips to achieve that. Then, tie the strips onto the intact hook part of the hanger. This will be the top of your weaving loom. You can now start weaving! Another option is to use the plastic hangers as a base for making dream catchers. Cut the hanger just below the neck, creating two circles. Wrap the circles with yarn, string, or ribbon, and then decorate them with beads, feathers, and other craft supplies. You can even add a small bell or charm to the bottom of the dream catcher.
Plastic hangers can also be reused to create unique and colorful wind chimes. Cut the hanger just below the neck, as before, to create two hooks. Then, cut the remaining parts into small sections, which will be used as clappers for the wind chime. Take a longer piece of the hanger and bend it into a U shape, joining the ends to form a loop. This will be the top of your wind chime, from which you can hang it up. Now, take some string or fishing line and tie the clappers at different lengths from the loop. Decorate the clappers with beads, paint, or ribbons to add color and interest. You can even melt the ends of the plastic slightly to create a unique, drippy effect.
For those who enjoy knitting or crocheting, plastic hangers can be upcycled into yarn needles. Cut the hanger just below the neck to create a long, straight piece. Smooth any sharp edges with sandpaper, and then use the needle to knit or crochet as usual. You can even decorate the needle by wrapping it with colorful thread or painting it. Make sure to seal the paint with a clear coat to prevent chipping. In addition to yarn crafts, plastic hangers can be used for embroidery and cross-stitch projects. Cut the hanger into small, thin pieces and use them as makeshift embroidery needles. Smooth the edges and bend one end to create a hook if needed.
Another creative way to reuse plastic hangers is by turning them into beading needles for jewelry-making projects. Cut the hanger into thin, sharp pieces and use them to string beads onto thread or wire. You can even create your own unique jewelry by combining plastic hanger pieces with beads and other findings. Get creative and experiment with different colors and sizes of hangers to add variety to your crafts. With a bit of imagination, plastic hangers can be transformed into fun and functional craft supplies, providing an eco-friendly alternative to purchasing new materials. So, the next time you're looking for a creative project, don't throw away those plastic hangers – reuse and upcycle them instead!
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Give them away to friends, family, or neighbours
If you have too many plastic hangers, consider giving them away to friends, family, or neighbours. This is a great way to declutter your space and help those around you who may be in need of some extra hangers.
Start by assessing how many hangers you have and how many you can part with. You might be surprised by how many hangers you've accumulated over the years! Separate the hangers into two piles: one to keep and one to give away. This will give you a clear idea of how many you have to offer and help you decide how many you can part with.
Once you've determined the number of hangers you're willing to give away, it's time to reach out to your network. Send a message in your family group chat or give your neighbours a knock. You could even post on social media or in your local community group to offer the hangers to a wider audience. Let people know that you have some spare plastic hangers that are in good condition and ask if anyone could make use of them.
When giving the hangers to friends and family, you might even offer them a choice of colours or styles if you have a variety. This could make the process more fun and engaging for both parties. You might also want to suggest that they could pay it forward by offering their own spare hangers to others in the future, creating a cycle of sharing and sustainability within your community.
By giving away your plastic hangers to those in your circle, you're not only reducing waste and helping the environment by extending the life of these hangers, but you're also strengthening your relationships and fostering a sense of community. It's a win-win situation!
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Offer them to local businesses
If you have a large number of plastic hangers to give away, consider offering them to local businesses. Thrift stores and charity shops are a good place to start, as they often require hangers to display their clothing donations. Homeless shelters, nursing homes, and theatres are also great options, as they may use hangers to store costumes or donated clothing.
You could also try offering them to local clothing boutiques or stores. Many stores have recycling programs and will take back their hangers to be reused or recycled. For example, Target reuses garment hangers seven or more times before repairing or grinding them down to create new hangers. Kohl's and Walmart also have similar programs.
If you know of any local direct sales consultants or small business owners, they may also be interested in your plastic hangers. Those who carry a large inventory, such as Lularoe consultants, often require a lot of storage and organisational tools. Offering your hangers to such individuals is a great way to help support their business while also reducing waste.
Finally, you can ask local dry cleaners if they would be interested in taking your plastic hangers for reuse. It's always worth checking, as they may have a use for them or know of someone else who does.
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Recycle them via a store recycling program
Plastic hangers are a common household item that often ends up in landfills, contributing to the growing problem of plastic waste. While recycling plastic hangers can be challenging due to the mix of different plastic types and metal parts, some stores have taken the initiative to address this issue by implementing recycling programs. Here's how you can recycle your plastic hangers through store recycling programs:
Find Stores with Recycling Programs
Firstly, identify stores in your area that have dedicated hanger recycling programs. Examples of such stores include Target, Kohl's, and Walmart. These stores understand the environmental impact of plastic waste and are committed to reducing it by reusing or recycling hangers.
Return Hangers to Participating Stores
Once you've identified the stores with recycling programs, gather your plastic hangers and return them to the designated drop-off locations within these stores. By doing so, you're ensuring that the hangers can be properly reused or recycled, giving them a new lease of life.
Support Stores with Closed-Loop Systems
Some companies, like Target, have adopted a closed-loop system for their garment hangers. This means they reuse hangers multiple times before repairing or grinding down broken hangers to create new ones. By supporting and patronizing these companies, you encourage the adoption of sustainable practices across the industry.
Donate Hangers to Thrift Stores
If you're unable to find stores with specific hanger recycling programs, consider donating your plastic hangers to local thrift stores, homeless shelters, nursing homes, or even theatres for costume storage. This extends the lifespan of the hangers and keeps them out of landfills.
Reuse and Reduce
While the primary focus is on recycling, it's essential to remember that reducing waste and reusing items are equally important pillars of sustainability. Before discarding any hangers, consider reusing them as much as possible. Additionally, when given the option, opt-out of taking new hangers from stores, allowing them to reuse their own hangers instead.
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Frequently asked questions
You can pass them on to someone else who might need them, such as a local thrift store, homeless shelter, nursing home, theatre, or dry cleaner. You could also offer them to friends, family, or neighbours, or give them away via Facebook, Craigslist, or Freecycle.
Plastic hangers cannot be recycled curbside. However, some stores have recycling programs and will take back their hangers to be reused or recycled. These include Target, Kohl's, and Walmart. Some companies also have individual recycling programs for the garment hangers they use.
Yes. It is estimated that 954 million plastic hangers are used each year in the UK alone. As they are made from multiple types of plastics, they are very difficult to recycle. Most plastic hangers end up in landfills, where they can leach toxic chemicals like BPA into the soil and groundwater.
You could switch to hangers made from recycled plastic, FSC-certified paper, bamboo, or plant-based bioplastics. One example is Ditto hangers, which are made from 100% recycled paper fibreboard and are recyclable, compostable, and non-toxic.
You can get creative and repurpose them! For example, you can make a wire hanger wreath with hearts.
