Maya Ellison
Plastic hangers are a common household item, but can they be recycled? With an estimated 30 million hangers ending up in landfills every day, it is important to understand the recyclability of plastic hangers and the environmental impact of their disposal. While some sources claim that plastic hangers can be recycled, it is not always easy or accessible to do so, and there are misconceptions surrounding the recyclability of plastic hangers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Polystyrene (plastic no. 6) or Styrofoam |
| Recyclability | Not easily recyclable, but possible in some cases |
| Environmental impact | Hangers are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to degrade in landfills, leaching toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater |
| Alternative materials | Wire, cardboard, bamboo, FSC-certified paper, plant-based bioplastics, recycled plastic |
| Consumer action | Avoid buying plastic hangers, reuse and recycle hangers, support petitions for sustainable alternatives |
| Retailer responsibility | Use sustainable hangers, implement take-back programs for old hangers |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic hangers are often made from polystyrene, which is not widely recycled
- Plastic hangers are mixed with metal parts, making them harder to recycle
- Plastic hangers are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to degrade
- Plastic hangers are labour and resource-intensive to recycle
- Plastic hangers are made from multiple types of plastics, which cannot be separated for recycling
Plastic hangers are often made from polystyrene, which is not widely recycled
Plastic hangers are lightweight, cheap, and help keep transport costs down. However, they are not very durable and are often immediately replaced with more robust wooden or plastic hangers. It is estimated that 85% of these hangers end up in landfills.
Even if a plastic hanger is made of just one type of plastic, it is challenging to identify the material, unlike bottles and containers that are numerically labelled. This means that most plastic hangers end up in landfills, where they can leach toxic chemicals like BPA into the soil and groundwater.
While some plastic hangers can be recycled, it is not easy for consumers to do so. Plastic hangers are often mixed with metal clips and parts, and when hangers are made of multiple types of plastics, they cannot be recycled because the different plastics cannot be separated.
To reduce the environmental impact of plastic hangers, consumers can opt for more sustainable alternatives, such as hangers made from recycled plastic, FSC-certified paper, bamboo, or plant-based bioplastics. Reusing and repurposing existing hangers is also recommended.
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Plastic hangers are mixed with metal parts, making them harder to recycle
Plastic hangers are notoriously difficult to recycle. While some sources claim that they can be recycled, it is not easy for consumers to do so. This is because plastic hangers are often made from multiple types of plastics that are blended together. When hangers are made of multiple plastic types, they cannot be recycled because the plastics are unable to be separated.
However, another reason why plastic hangers are hard to recycle is that they are often mixed with metal parts. Metal clips and hooks are added to plastic hangers to hold items such as pants, towels, or dresses. These metal parts make plastic hangers even more difficult to recycle. Most domestic plastic collection facilities are unable to handle and recycle plastic-metal hybrid hangers, so they are often simply thrown away.
To recycle plastic hangers with metal parts, the two materials must be separated. The metal hooks and clips can be removed from the plastic body of the hanger using pliers. The metal parts can then be recycled with other metal items. However, the plastic part of the hanger might still be rejected by recycling programs, as they may not know what type of plastic it is made from.
Some innovative recycling programs and companies do exist to help keep plastic hangers out of landfills and oceans. For example, First Mile, a London-based recycling company, has begun accepting broken and unwanted plastic and metal hangers from retail businesses for shredding and repurposing. Additionally, some stores have take-back programs and will accept their own brand of hangers back for recycling.
Overall, while it is possible to recycle plastic hangers with metal parts, it is a complex and time-consuming process. The difficulty of separating and identifying the materials, as well as the lack of widespread recycling programs, means that most plastic hangers with metal parts end up in landfills.
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Plastic hangers are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to degrade
The difficulty in recycling plastic hangers contributes to the problem of their long degradation time. Plastic hangers often end up in landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to degrade. Many domestic plastic collection facilities are unable to handle and recycle plastic hangers due to their unique shape and the mix of plastic types and metal parts used in their construction. Even when plastic hangers are made of a single type of plastic, the specific type of plastic used, such as polystyrene or Styrofoam, may not be accepted by local recycling facilities.
The lack of recycling symbols or clear identification of the plastic type on hangers further complicates the recycling process. Most plastic hangers do not have an obvious recycling number, making it challenging for consumers to determine if and how they can be recycled. This lack of clear information leads to confusion and often results in hangers being disposed of in the trash, ultimately ending up in landfills.
To address the issue of non-biodegradable plastic hangers, it is essential to reduce the use of plastic hangers and promote more sustainable alternatives. Consumers can opt for hangers made from recycled plastic, FSC-certified paper, bamboo, or plant-based bioplastics. Additionally, retailers should take responsibility for the hangers they use and explore sustainable options to reduce the environmental impact of their operations.
While it may be challenging to recycle plastic hangers, it is not impossible. Some recycling programs do accept plastic hangers, and companies like TerraCycle specialize in recycling hangers and other discarded items. Consumers can also take proactive steps by supporting petitions and companies advocating for sustainable practices, such as Arch and Hook, which offers hangers made from certified wood, upcycled ocean-bound plastics, or other recycled plastics.
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Plastic hangers are labour and resource-intensive to recycle
The process of recycling plastic hangers requires additional labour and resources, as the metal parts must be removed before the hangers can be processed. This involves using tools like pliers to detach the metal components. Furthermore, the plastic types must be separated, which is challenging due to the blend of plastics used in the hangers.
The unique shape of plastic hangers also poses challenges during the recycling process. They can get caught in machinery, leading to downtime and reduced efficiency in recycling operations. This issue is not limited to plastic hangers but extends to wire hangers as well, which can cause similar disruptions in recycling centres.
The labour and resource intensity of recycling plastic hangers is further exacerbated by the lack of standard recycling symbols on these items. Most plastic hangers do not have an obvious recycling number, making it difficult for consumers to identify the specific type of plastic they are dealing with. This lack of clear labelling hinders the ability to sort and process these hangers for recycling effectively.
Additionally, the environmental impact of producing plastic hangers is significant. It is estimated that for every plastic clothes hanger produced, about 0.16 kilograms of CO2 is generated. This contributes to the carbon footprint associated with the hanger's lifecycle, from production to end-of-life disposal or recycling.
To address the challenges posed by plastic hangers, consumers are encouraged to avoid purchasing them in the first place. Sustainable alternatives, such as hangers made from recycled plastic, FSC-certified paper, bamboo, or plant-based bioplastics, are available and offer more environmentally friendly options. Reusing existing hangers and reducing the overall use of hangers by folding items instead are also recommended strategies to minimise the environmental impact of plastic hangers.
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Plastic hangers are made from multiple types of plastics, which cannot be separated for recycling
Plastic hangers are often made from multiple types of plastics, such as polystyrene (plastic no. 6) and Styrofoam, which are blended together and cannot be easily separated for recycling. This is a significant challenge because different types of plastics need to be separated for effective recycling, and when they are mixed, it becomes nearly impossible to recycle them.
The difficulty in separating the different types of plastics in hangers is not the only issue. Plastic hangers often have metal parts and clips, which further complicates the recycling process. These metal components are challenging to remove and can cause damage to recycling machinery, leading to downtime and increased costs.
Additionally, plastic hangers are not always easily identifiable by their material composition. Unlike plastic bottles and containers that are clearly labelled with a numerical recycling code, hangers often lack a recycling symbol, making it difficult for consumers and recycling facilities to determine the specific type of plastic they are made of.
The inability to separate and identify the different plastics in hangers contributes to the larger problem of plastic waste. Plastic hangers, along with other plastic items, end up in landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to degrade. As the plastic slowly breaks down, it releases toxic chemicals, such as benzene and bisphenol-A (BPA), into the soil and groundwater, posing environmental and health risks.
To address the issue of non-recyclable plastic hangers, consumers can take several steps. Firstly, it is essential to reduce the use of plastic hangers and opt for more sustainable alternatives, such as hangers made from recycled plastic, FSC-certified paper, bamboo, or plant-based bioplastics. Secondly, consumers can support companies that use sustainable hangers and encourage retailers to take responsibility for the disposal of their plastic hangers by providing take-back programs or recycling boxes in their stores. Finally, when disposing of unwanted hangers, consumers can check with their local recycling programs to see if they accept plastic hangers and, if so, ensure that any metal parts are removed before placing them in the recycling bin.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic hangers are made from multiple types of plastics, such as plastic no. 6 (polystyrene) and plastic no. 7, which are blended and cannot be easily separated for recycling. They are also often mixed with metal clips and parts, making them even harder to recycle.
Plastic hangers are not biodegradable, so they do not break down naturally in the earth. Instead, they photodegrade, breaking into smaller and smaller particles, and leaching toxic and carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and bisphenol-A (BPA) into the soil and groundwater supply.
There are several eco-friendly alternatives to plastic hangers, such as hangers made from recycled plastic, FSC-certified paper, bamboo, cardboard, or plant-based bioplastics.
If you have old plastic hangers, you can try to return them to the store or take them to a local scrap metal recycling center. Some stores have takeback programs and may have a box for depositing old hangers. You can also try to reuse or repurpose them, or donate them to a thrift store or clothing donation center.
