Biodegradability of Textiles Made from Natural Fibers During Composting and Vermicomposting

The increasing generation of natural fiber textile waste highlights the urgent need for sustainable management strategies. This study investigated the biodegradation of textiles made from viscose, cotton, and linen under controlled composting and vermicomposting conditions in a four-month cycle to assess their decomposition dynamics and the quality of the resulting products. Composting was performed by an outdoor method and under controlled conditions, while vermicomposting included outdoor and home-scale variants using Eisenia andrei. Textile biodegradability and quality of the final product were quantified by weight loss, microscopic evaluation, and changes in pH, electrical conductivity, volatile solids, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), macroelement content, and levels of potentially toxic compounds. By month 2, textiles reached complete (100%) degradation in outdoor composting and in both vermicomposting systems; controlled composting achieved 87% degradability at month 2, 94% at month 3, and 99% at month 4. Across all systems, the C/N ratio stabilized around 11, and the resulting compost and vermicompost met quality standards for nutrients and safety criteria for toxicity. The findings confirm that both composting and vermicomposting are suitable methods for processing natural fiber textile waste, yielding environmentally safe and agronomically valuable products that support circular waste management in the textile sector.