UK council trials pothole repairs made from recycled textile waste

The UK's Maidstone Borough Council is testing whether discarded textiles can be repurposed into pothole repair material as part of a new trial with sustainable materials company Recool.

Five potholes across Mote Park and Penenden Heath have been repaired using an experimental low-carbon material developed by Recool and installed with local contractor Loughman. The repairs are on council-owned land and do not involve public roads, which are maintained by Kent County Council.

The material uses recycled textile waste to fill most of the pothole, with a specialist surfacing layer applied on top. The council will monitor the repairs over the coming months to assess how the material performs under normal park use and changing weather conditions, with future applications dependent on the outcome.

The trial looks to tackle the 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles each year generated by the UK, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme, with almost half ending up in general waste rather than being reused or recycled.

Maidstone Borough Council cabinet member for climate transition and nature recovery Rachel Rodwell said the pilot is exploring whether textile waste can be turned into a practical infrastructure material while reducing waste and carbon emissions.

“This pilot is about turning that problem into an opportunity. By testing whether waste textiles can be repurposed as part of a pothole repair material, we're exploring a practical solution that could reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and support the circular economy," Rodwell stated.

In her own statement, Recool's Elise Daly said the company transforms mixed textile waste into lower-carbon alternatives to traditional plastic products, adding: “We hope innovations such as this can help councils and businesses reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and deliver value for local communities.”