Recycling Plastics or not really

Did you know that when you recycle plastic it isn't really being recycled?
Plastic can never really be recycled. To recycle means to use again, make the plastic bottle into another reusable bottle that eliminates the use of virgin materials. Meaning that instead of using new materials to create a new bottle they are reusing the recycled plastic to recreate bottles instead of making more plastic and more waste; this is not what happens. Some plastics are remade into things like parking lot bumpers, textiles, and plastic lumber, which are not recyclable at all.
Many people don't even recycle, but if you are one of those who do (Hurray for you!!!) there are only certain codes that each facility accepts. The chasing arrows symbol with the number inside does not necessarily mean that your local facility will accept that type of plastic. The chasing arrows symbol on plastic doesn't even mean it is recyclable at all. The only important part is the number inside, which represents the types of materials, or resin, they use to create that kind of plastic. When you recycle the plastic the facility has to go through and sort all of the plastics into what they take and what they don't.
Many of the plastics are still not taken at facilities and end up in landfills anyway. Because of the misconceptions about plastic and recycling many people still buy more plastic then they need to because they figure they are recycling it so it is okay because it's not going to the landfill. This is wrong. Plastics are not recycled into plastic containers, virgin materials and resources are always used. The amount of energy and materials it takes to make a plastic container is the same amount as if a glass container was made and glass can be recycled. Making a glass container from recycled materials takes even less energy than making a plastic container from the only source of virgin materials. 
So next time you have something plastic in your hand consider the effect you are really having on the environment. Plastic is made from nonrenewable resources. The plastic recycling facilities don't even pay for the ads we see on tv and other places, virgin plastic manufacturers do. The more plastic we buy and recycle, thinking we're doing the right thing, the more plastic they can produce!
Try to buy things that use less plastic, have less packaging, buy in bulk, buy glass instead, buy something that can be reusable, and/or buy things that are already in recyclable containers.