Maidstone Borough Council is trialling a pothole-filling scheme which involves the use of unwanted clothing items.

Led by the council and sustainable materials company RECOOL, the trial is designed to deliver a ‘durable and more sustainable alternative to traditional repair methods’.

The repair material will be made from recycled textile waste such as fast fashion items that have been discarded, with an aim to make use of the estimated 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles generated annually in the UK.

It will see potholes being mostly filled with the recycled textile waste, before a specialist surfacing layer is added on top. Five potholes have already been repaired using the ‘experimental low-carbon product’, the council has confirmed.

Given that nearly half of the UK’s used textiles are disposed of as general waste instead of being reused or recycled, the council is seeking to ‘support more circular and sustainable approaches to infrastructure maintenance’ through the scheme.

Furthermore, the trial does not impact public roads as it is being conducted on council-owned land – including Mote Park and Penenden Heath.

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Cllr Rachel Rodwell, Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery, said: ‘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.’

Cllr Clive English, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement, added: ‘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.’