A lot of us have good intentions. When we’re provided the option, we toss what we think of as recyclable trash into a blue bin, and assume our job is over: Our waste will be recycled, and we’ve done our part. But, as we are about to learn, this isn’t always true. All plastic is not created equal. Some plastic, like the eternally reusable PET (also called PETE, and when recycled, rPET) (#1) is inherently reusable—it can be melted down and reused again and again without loss of function. Other plastics, like PVC (#3) are too toxic to warrant much recycling.
Follow this conveyor belt of facts to find out what happens to your plastic after the bin, and how you can become a more conscious consumer.
Screenshots of the man talking to the camera and with his momTikTok | 
Screenshots of the bakery Image Source: TikTok | 
A woman hands out food to a homeless personCanva
A female artist in her studioCanva
A woman smiling in front of her computerCanva 
A woman holds a cup of coffee while looking outside her windowCanva 
A woman flexes her bicepCanva 
A woman cooking in her kitchenCanva 
Two women console each otherCanva 
Two women talking to each otherCanva 
Two people having a lively conversationCanva 
Two women embrace in a hugCanva 
A reddit commentReddit | 
A Reddit commentReddit | 
A Reddit commentReddit | 
Stressed-out employee stares at their computerCanva
Who knows what adventures the bottle had before being discovered. 
Gif of young girl looking at someone suspiciously via 
A bartender makes a drinkCanva