From Canada Free Press:
You probably know that recycling a plastic beverage bottle recaptures its value and keeps it out of the local landfill. You may also know that the bottle can live a second life in a container, carpeting, playground equipment, automobile parts, sleeping bags, shoes, luggage, other plastic containers and even clothing.
But have you ever wondered exactly how the plastic bottle that you toss in the recycling bin becomes a new T-shirt or rug?
The transformation from beverage bottle to new product begins at a recycling facility that receives large bales of used plastic bottles. The bottles are compressed into bales to reduce transportation costs and energy. These bottles already have been pre-sorted, so each bale should contain only one type of plastic: polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), the type of plastic most commonly used to make pop, water, juice, sport drinks and other beverage bottles.
The Recycling Journey of the Plastic Beverage Bottle