Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) the feasibility of using recycled plastic as an effective alternative base material within the pavement system of New York City and 2) the structural adequacy of using recycled plastic in roadway applications. The literature review
supports the hypothesis that waste plastic, especially in form of fiber-reinforced Recycled Plastic Lumber (RPL), can be effectively used as a roadway material. The effects of rutting and cracking with the introduction of RPL into pavement structures, was evaluated using BISAR, an elastic
multi-layer computer program. A comparative approach between Portland Cement Concrete (PCC), the most typical pavement structure found in New York City, conventional Asphalt Cement Concrete (ACC) and the proposed ACC-RPL combination were evaluated. Results from this analysis showed that the
stress-strain distribution along the pavement cross-section containing RPL was lower or close to the ACC and PCC pavements currently encountered in New York City. These stress-strain values in the RPL pavement structure were 90% lower as compared to a conventional ACC pavement. This information
lends credence to the notion that RPL can be used as a superb material in roadway applications. Further validation and refinement of the model is continuing to more accurately determine the effect of substituting RPL as a base layer within the utility infrastructure in an urban environment
such as New York City.