Photo by V. Miller
June 16, 2004
Recycling Dryer Lint
Recycling Dryer Lint: Effects on Plant Growth and Soil
Michael Montelongo, 14, El Paso, Texas
Finalist, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2003
Project background: In 2000, a large garment finisher in El Paso, Texas, processed 300,000 pairs of jeans every week. This resulted in the disposal of several million tons of lint—an expensive problem for the company. This led Michael to wonder about the effect recycled lint would have on soil and plant growth and whether lint could be recycled and used as an organic fertilizer.
Tactics and results: Michael filled three containers—one just with soil, another with soil and two cups of lint, and another with soil and four cups of lint. He planted geranium seeds, lima bean seeds, and chives in each container and recorded the plants' growth. After one year, he analyzed the soil.
Michael found that the cotton fibers in the lint decayed and released mineral nutrients into the soil. This caused an increase in the number of air pockets in the soil, resulting in healthier plants that needed less water.
Michael concluded that using lint as fertilizer saves money and recycles an unused resource.
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