Kent's Maidstone Borough Council is testing a new low-carbon pothole repair material made from recycled fast fashion clothing. The trial covers five potholes in Mote Park and Penenden Heath, using textile waste as the main fill material with a specialist surfacing layer on top. The council hopes to reduce landfill waste and cut emissions associated with traditional repairs. The material is supplied by RECOOL and installed by contractor Loughman. With the UK generating about 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles annually, and nearly half going to general waste, this trial could offer a practical way to repurpose that waste. Repairs will be monitored over the coming months to assess durability under park use and weather conditions. If successful, the method could be shared with other authorities, potentially offering a lower-carbon alternative for pothole repairs on public highways as well.
