What to do with your wire hanger?

Mike Lockward, Grand Rapids, Michigan — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:08:06 GMT

My Dry Cleaner says that the hooks don't work well on the cardboard hanger when putting them in the car. I looked and I can see how only a wire hanger or maybe a few plastic hangers will fit the car hook. I'm not sure how I feel about ads in my closet at home as well.

What to do with your wire hanger?

Joyce, CA — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 06:48:24 GMT

it's still not environmentally friendly, but you can also use them when making s'mores!

What to do with your wire hanger?

Jim Woods Pittsburgh Pennsylvania — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:46:05 GMT

Wow did you guys miss the mark on the hanger story. Not only are wire hangers recyclable, but since they're made of steel (North America's Number One Recycled Material), they also contain a minimum of 28 percent recycled content. So, wire hangers are both recycled and recyclable. Not to mention, even when they are thrown away, they are often automatically recycled by magnetic separation from other less valuable trash.

What to do with your wire hanger?

Adgurl, Atlanta, GA — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:04:48 GMT

I am so glad to see this. I have over 100 wire hangers in my closets and was very reluctant to just throw them away. I hope my dry cleaners will take them back...if not, it could turn out to be a money raising project for my daughter's girl scout brownie troop.

What to do with your wire hanger?

TERRY HERWICK,LAS VEGAS,NV — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:18:09 GMT

I COULD SURE USE SOME OF THEM, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF THEM.
TERRY-LAS VEGAS
P.P.THEY ALLOW MORE THINGS TO BE HUNG IN A SMALL SPACE.

What to do with your wire hanger?

Atl — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:54:20 GMT

I'll checkout http://www.wirehangerexchange.com

What to do with your wire hanger?

Al Liderth — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:49:30 GMT

It is a shame you don't live in London and use my company www.thebedmakers.com for your laundry and dry-cleaning needs. We provide wooden hangers which you just recycle every time you use the service. It saves throwing those awful wire hangers and your clothes sit better in your closet.
Similarly, we deliver our clothes back without the plastic wrapping if the customer prefers. The wrapping doesn't let your clothes breathe either, so it really is a benefit to have your clothes returned without it.

What to do with your wire hanger?

Gary Barker, Oakland, CA — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:53:01 GMT

We've researched this issue and visited many landfills and recycling centers. This much is clear: wire hangers are the Kryptonite of recycling systems. They fit snugly on top of the rotating lofting cams at the beginning of the recycling line and get twisted up in them so badly that the entire system has to be shut down. It takes 15-20 minutes to climb on these rotating shafts to cut the wire off. They don't get as far as the magnet that removes metal.

That means if a dry cleaner doesn't have a metal recycler they take it to, and they don't reuse them, they go right in the trash. There are 3.5 billion wire hangers made every year and only 15% get recycled. That means about 3 billion hangers go into into landfills, enough to fill 2 entire Empire State Buildings. And they take over 100 years to break down in those anaerobic conditions.

And you think that's bad, you should hear about the retail plastic and wire hangers!

That's why we invented our 100% recyclable hangers. Check them out at www.dittohangers.com.

Gary Barker
President and CEO
GreenHeart Global

What to do with your wire hanger?

Karen Smith, Allen Texas — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:15:41 GMT

I used to take my wire hangers back to the cleaners we used weekly and they always took them; however, when we moved to a new area of town, and thus moved cleaners, the new cleaners said that we shouldn't have beleived that the former cleaners recycled them as no cleaners recycles them, it's too much work to recycle, cover them with the paper, etc. All cleaners just throw them out even if they tell the customer that they reuse them.

What to do with your wire hanger?

Bennett — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:12:39 GMT

I am a drycleaning operator in SLC,Utah and we actually do use the hangers again. Any hangers returned to us are sorted and re-used as new. It saves considerable money and helps the enviroment.. why wouldn't we do it!!

What to do with your wire hanger?

Kristine, Forked River, NJ — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:15:44 GMT

our dry cleaners in NJ stated that the health dept told them they could not re-use hangers - that it was a health issue???
What kind of health issue?
Maybe I will try to find a way to raise money for the school.

What to do with your wire hanger?

Adam, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:36:11 GMT

Does anybody know of anyone in Atlanta that takes these hangers back and either reuses or recycles them?

What to do with your wire hanger?

Susie Smyre, Florida — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:38:13 GMT

My dry cleaners just told me the price of hangers doubled in one day - therefore I am sure all cleaners will take the hangers back now and if they are smart they will give discounts for them?
It may be time to research this story again - I took the hangers to a local charity prior to taking them to the cleaners, they said they throw them in the dump? Isn't it time we all recycle.

What to do with your wire hanger?

Emily, Columbus, OH — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:53:08 GMT

Why don't dry cleaners allow their customers to use their own hangers if they choose and do away with the wire hangers all together? Has anyone heard of a dry cleaner that does this? I despise wire hangers and immediately bend them and throw them in the trash when I get home. I will start taking them back to the dry cleaner but I don't want them in the first place!

What to do with your wire hanger?

Paula Jean ,Orange,NJ — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:59:47 GMT

I use them in my art projects;not only does it cuts down on landfill space,but I don't have to buy wire(unless I need a particular gauge).My tin snips are always on standby!

What to do with your wire hanger?

Laura, Bloomfield Hills, MI — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:52:09 GMT

I return them to my dry cleaner a few times a year, but how do I store them in the mean time? Is there a cardboard hanger caddy that would fit in my closet? Any suggestions for storing?

What to do with your wire hanger?

dave hartford ct — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:35:03 GMT

When I grew up, wire hangers were recycled as auto parts. They are excellent for hanging mufflers. They can also be used as pipe clamps, when you have to clamp a rubber hose around a metal fixture.