Maidstone Borough Council in Kent, England is testing a new pothole repair material made from recycled textiles. Five potholes in Mote Park and Penenden Heath have been filled using a low-carbon product from RECOOL, with a specialist surfacing layer on top. The trial aims to address two problems at once: the huge amount of textile waste from fast fashion and the need for more sustainable road maintenance. The UK generates about 1.45 million metric tons of used textiles yearly, and nearly half ends up in general waste. If the material holds up under park use and weather, it could offer councils a way to cut carbon emissions and reduce landfill waste. The repairs will be monitored over the coming months, and while these potholes are on council-owned land rather than public highways, the council plans to share results with other authorities. This small pilot shows how circular economy ideas can move into practical infrastructure maintenance.
