Maidstone Borough Council in the UK is working with sustainable materials company Recool to test whether discarded textiles can be turned into material for repairing potholes.

The trial is taking place at Mote Park and Penenden Heath, where five potholes were repaired in total. The material used was developed by Recool and is a low-carbon experimental material, with the work carried out by local contractor Loughman. It should be noted that these potholes are on land owned by the council and do not involve public roads maintained by Kent County Council.

In terms of the construction process, waste textiles make up the main body of the pothole filling, with a specialized surface layer laid on top. The council will continue to monitor the repairs over the coming months, focusing on how the material performs under the intensity of daily park use and different weather conditions. Whether the application is expanded later will depend on the results of this trial.

According to data from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the UK generates 1.45 million tonnes of waste textiles each year, nearly half of which goes into general waste rather than being reused or recycled.

Rachel Rodwell, Maidstone Borough Council's cabinet member responsible for climate transition and nature recovery, said the trial is meant to verify whether textile waste can be converted into practical infrastructure material while reducing waste and carbon emissions. "This trial is about turning a problem into an opportunity. By testing whether waste textiles can be reused as part of pothole repair material, we are exploring a practical solution that has the potential to reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and support the circular economy," she said.

Elise Daly of Recool said the company converts mixed textile waste into low-carbon alternatives to replace traditional plastic products. She added: "We hope innovations like this can help councils and businesses reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and create value for local communities."

If the trial proves feasible, the reuse of waste textiles in road and municipal maintenance materials will open a new disposal outlet for textile waste and give local governments another option for circular economy procurement.

Source: UK council trials pothole repairs made from recycled textile waste · Originally published on 2026-09-25