Can You Compost Dryer Lint?
Yes, with care. Lint from natural fibers like cotton, wool and linen composts as a light brown. Lint from synthetic clothing, such as polyester, nylon and acrylic, is plastic microfiber, so skip it if your laundry is mixed.
At a glance
| Home compost pile | With care |
|---|---|
| Green or brown | Brown (carbon-rich) |
| Moisture | Dry |
| Prep | None needed |
| Worm bin | With care |
| Bokashi | No |
How to compost dryer lint
Save lint only from loads that are all natural fiber, such as cotton towels and sheets. Dampen it and pull it apart before adding, since dry lint repels water. Add it in small amounts mixed with wetter greens.
Put mixed-fiber lint in the trash. Lint from loads dried with dryer sheets is best trashed too, since it carries their residue.
What goes wrong
Dry clumps of lint sit unchanged in a pile, so moisten and tear them apart. Most household loads include polyester blends, and those microfibers stay in the soil for a very long time. When in doubt, trash it.
Worm bins and bokashi
Worm bin: Small amounts of damp, natural-fiber lint are fine in worm bedding; skip lint from synthetic loads.
Bokashi: Lint doesn't belong in bokashi.
This counts as a brown. Adding a lot of it? Check the balance with the compost mix calculator.
From hopcompost.com/can-you-compost/dryer-lint/ · General guidance, not professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is dryer lint good for compost?
Only if it comes from natural fibers. It adds a little carbon and not much else, so it's a minor ingredient at best.
Is dryer lint plastic?
It can be. Lint from polyester, nylon, acrylic and blends is made of synthetic microfibers, which are microplastics.
Can you compost lint if you use dryer sheets?
It's better not to. Dryer sheets leave fragrance and softener residue on the lint. For a similar light brown, use paper towels instead.