It wasn’t exactly what Mommie Dearest said, but we’re sure she’d approve. No wire hangers, unless you recycle them.

A group of dry cleaners wants to remedy one of the huge resource drains of their industry. Thanks to an effort by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, fewer of the triangular bits of steel are going to waste.

Dry cleaners in 37 states pledged to reduce landfill waste by 10 million hangers – a total of 600,000 pounds of steel – by April 4.

The cleaners started Jan. 2 and reached their goal in three months. Businesses throughout North America participated in the Cleaners Care Hanger Recycling program, which collected more than 13 million hangers.

More cleaners are joining by making a pledge and tracking the number of hangers they recover, reuse or recycle. The institute keeps a tally and provides support materials to help spread the word about the program. Cleaners can sign up for the free program at DLIonline.org.

The group wants to increase the number from 10 million to 25 million by the end of the year. Currently participants are doing business in 37 states and three Canadian provinces.