Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) in Kent, UK, has partnered with sustainable materials company RECOOL to fill five potholes in local parks using low-carbon repair material made from recycled textile waste. This is the council's first pilot using discarded fast fashion clothing for road surface repair, with work carried out at the council-owned Mote Park and Penenden Heath, and the sections implemented by contractor Loughman.

Key Points

  • Maidstone Borough Council, together with RECOOL, filled five potholes in parks using low-carbon material made from recycled clothing
  • According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the UK generates about 1.45 million tonnes of discarded textiles each year, with nearly half going into general waste
  • The material fills the main body of the pothole with recycled textile waste, topped with a specialized surface layer; it is currently in the monitoring phase to assess performance under daily use and weather conditions

The council explained that this repair process first fills the pothole with material made mostly from recycled textile waste, then lays a professional surface layer on top. Construction was recently completed, and performance will be continuously monitored over the coming months under daily park use and the UK's variable weather conditions. Because pothole maintenance on public roads falls under Kent County Council's jurisdiction, this pilot is limited to park areas on council-owned land.

Maidstone Borough Council member Rachel Rodwell said that second-hand trading platforms have extended the life of many garments, but fast fashion still leads to large amounts of textiles being discarded. This pilot aims to turn that problem into an opportunity by testing whether discarded textiles can be reused in pothole repair material, thereby reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions and supporting the circular economy. Another council member, Clive English, noted that local parks and open spaces receive millions of visits each year, and maintaining their safety, accessibility and good condition is a top priority. This trial provides an opportunity to test a potentially transformative product under real conditions; although responsibility for potholes on public roads lies with Kent County Council, Maidstone is willing to share the test results with any interested organization.

RECOOL representative Elise Daly said the company converts mixed textile waste into practical low-carbon alternatives to traditional plastic products, creating new uses for materials that might otherwise be discarded. She hopes such innovations can help councils and businesses reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and give back to local communities.

This pilot reflects exploration into applying discarded textiles in construction repair materials, and shows that local governments are seeking to incorporate textile waste into procurement and trial processes for public facility maintenance, finding a new outlet for old clothing recycling beyond road maintenance.

Source: Council uses binned fast fashion items - to plug potholes · Originally published on 2026-09-26