Old clothes are being used to fix potholes in Maidstone's parks thanks to an innovative new trial by Maidstone Borough Council and sustainable materials company RECOOL. (Maidstone Borough Council via SWNS)
By Isobel Williams
A council is using fast fashion throwaways — to plug potholes.
Five potholes in parks across Maidstone, Kent, England, have been filled with a new low-carbon repair material made from recycled clothing.
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is trialing the innovative method with sustainable materials company RECOOL to see whether old clothes can become an environmentally friendly alternative.
The material uses recycled textile waste to fill most of the pothole, with a specialist surfacing layer applied on top. (Maidstone Borough Council via SWNS)
The practice runs are taking place on council-owned land in Mote Park and Penenden Heath, as the public roads are maintained by Kent County Council.
Installed in partnership with contractor Loughman, the material uses recycled textile waste to fill most of the pothole, with a specialist surfacing layer applied on top.
According to the charity Waste and Resources Action Programme, the U.K. generates about 1.45 million metric tons of used textiles every year, with almost half ending up in general waste.
A pothole before it was filled with experimental low-carbon product developed by RECOOL. (Maidstone Borough Council via SWNS)
Councillor Rachel Rodwell, of MBC, said: "While second-hand selling sites have helped extend the life of many clothes, fast fashion means huge amounts of textiles are still being thrown away every year.
"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.
"It's an exciting example of how innovation can help address environmental challenges while tackling everyday maintenance issues."
Five potholes, two at Mote Park and three at Penenden Heath, have been repaired using an experimental low-carbon product developed by RECOOL. (Maidstone Borough Council via SWNS)
Councillor Clive English, of MBC, added: "Our parks and open spaces welcome millions of visits every year, so keeping them safe, accessible and well maintained is a top priority.
"This trial gives us the chance to test a potentially game-changing product in real-world conditions and see how it performs under everyday use and all the challenges our British weather can throw at it.
"Innovation like this helps us make smarter decisions about how we maintain council-owned land while reducing environmental impacts.
"And while responsibility for potholes on public highways sits with Kent County Council, we're keen to share what we learn with any authority interested in the results."
The repairs have been completed recently and will be monitored over the coming months to assess their performance under normal park use and weather conditions.
The repairs have been completed recently and will be monitored over the coming months to assess their performance under normal park use and weather conditions. (Maidstone Borough Council via SWNS)
Elise Daly of RECOOL said: "We've been delighted to work with Maidstone Borough Council and Loughman's on this trial. RECOOL transforms mixed textile waste into practical, lower-carbon alternatives to traditional plastic products, creating new uses for materials that might otherwise go to waste.
"We hope innovations such as this can help councils and businesses reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and deliver value for local communities."
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