Dryer lint is one of those substances that seems to get everywhere when you do the laundry. We dry to catch it, toss it in the garbage, and then later find balls around the dryer. Not a lot of it, but annoying anyway. Can you compost dryer lint? Yes, in fact, you can.
It’s not the most nutritious material, but dryer lint does have carbon in it to help you to maintain the right ratio of browns and greens in your compost. So, rather than try to find a trash can for it, now you can put a jar or milk jug next to the dryer and start collecting it.
Unfortunately, this is only true if you are drying materials that are made of organic fibers. Of course, you can’t get compostable material (organic material) out of inorganic fibers. So, if you’re drying cotton, wool (careful about shrinking), and other natural fibers, you are good to compost.
You mays see references to the EPA claiming that you could always compost dryer lint because only organic materials would create dryer lint. We couldn’t find the reference, but Tufts did a study and found inorganic material in the dryer lint when they washed some synthetic materials. So, if you’re not washing organic materials, best not to compost the dryer lint.
Otherwise, unfortunately, you throw it out just like you have been.
How to Compost Dryer Lint
This is some of the easiest compost you’ll find. Just take it out as your jar fills up and dump it on your compost pile. Wet it down a bit. There ya go.
When you turn your compost pile, it will get mixed in. It’s really that easy.
Adding dryer lint to your compost is one of the easier materials. It’s not the most advantageous material for your compost, but keeping every little bit of waste out of landfills helps.
Can You Compost Dryer Sheets?
No, unfortunately not, at least not most. Most dryer sheets are made of synthetic materials, so they’re not compostable. Some, like these from Amazon, are made of all-natural fibers and listed as compostable.
If you want to compost your dryer sheets, read the label and make sure they are completely organic. They may even be explicitly listed as compostable. You want to avoid composting dryer sheets with fragrances in them unless explicitly labeled as compostable. The fragrances come from chemicals that you probably don’t want in your soil.
You also don’t want to compost dryer lint if you have used non-compostable dryer sheets. Those same chemicals are likely all over the lint and could harm your compost or your plants.
When you go to compost them, it’s probably a good idea to cut them up (or rip them up) to help them decompose faster. It’s not a requirement but is helpful.
Can You Add Dryer Lint to Compost?
Yes, if it’s coming from all-natural material. In that case, you can add it right to the top of the pile. However, dryer lint from non–natural material like synthetic fibers cannot be composted.