Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose: Integrating Recycled Plastics into NYC's Roadways

New York City generates millions of tons of municipal solid waste annually, and plastics represent one of the most difficult material streams to redirect away from disposal due to their high production volumes, limited recyclability at scale, and narrow range of viable end uses. In response, the city has enacted several mandates that propose a circular economy as part of the solution, including the draft 2026-2036 DSNY Solid Waste Management Plan. Building on these commitments, this capstone project evaluated the feasibility of incorporating post-consumer recycled plastics into the city's roadway infrastructure and developed an implementation plan in collaboration with the Department of Sanitation and the Department of Transportation, and through the Department of Design and Construction's Town+Gown program. The team's methodology combined scientific, technical, and policy research with site visits and stakeholder interviews with subject matter experts. Final recommendations address four areas: expanded pilot programs, revisions to NYC asphalt specifications, strategies to increase plastic feedstock quality and quantity, and incentives to encourage private sector participation.