Abstract: An electrostatic dust collector for removing particles, such as smoke particles, pollen and the like from a gas stream passed therethrough includes a filter element formed of narrow strips of pliable, porous dielectric material superimposed, face to face, with electrodes therebetween and so that no air gap is formed between the face to face strips. The superimposed strip is randomly packed into a non-conductive bag, such as of nylon net, and positioned in a gas stream from which particles are to be removed and the pores of the dielectric material are charged to attract particles in such gas stream to the walls of the charged pores by applying a voltage to the electrodes.