Science

Emrys

(9,005 posts)

1. Shoddy - short-fibred waste, often wool from carpet manufacture - has a long history as a soil improver

Reply to electric_blue68 (Original post)

Tue Feb 17, 2026, 08:43 PM

Tuesday

Recycled material could also be used to make a low-quality fabric, a process said to be invented in Batley, UK in 1813. You can buy it in domestic quantities as a mix with other compost or mulch materials - e.g. https://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/products/wool-compost-double-strength.p.aspx

Here's a letter from a local newspaper in the English Midlands describing this use:

'Shoddy' fertiliser

12th December 2007

TO answer Laurie Abraham's letter regarding carpet fertiliser, what he has seen is good old shoddy, which is a waste product from the making of woollen carpets.

It contains a high level of nitrogen which is released slowly over a period of thee years and is ploughed into the soil to benefit most crops.

It is an organic fertiliser. Little is available these days as it is difficult to keep separate from the nylon also used in the carpet industry.

I have loaded and spread many tons from the carpet factories in Kidderminster in the distant past.

ROB BLAKEWAY Chaddesley Corbett

https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/letters/1894156.shoddy-fertiliser/

Using raw wool if there's a surplus and little supply from industrial waste products sounds like a good idea, though I wonder if they'd need to go to special lengths to wash out the lanolin, as it would likely slow down the decay processes. Lanolin byproducts obviously have their own uses.

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electric_blue68

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Highlight:

Soil Restoration Experiments in Australia using Sheep's Wool... [View all] electric_blue68 Tuesday OP

Shoddy - short-fibred waste, often wool from carpet manufacture - has a long history as a soil improver Emrys Tuesday #1

Ha! Interesting! Maybe... electric_blue68 Tuesday #2

I'd guess they're on to this sort of idea already, Emrys Tuesday #5

Sounds somewhat similar to biochar WestMichRad Tuesday #3

Looked it up. Interesting. Ty electric_blue68 Tuesday #4