What are the benefits of plastic bottle recycling and what are the drawbacks of not recycling? pleease help!!!

I'm not an expert on this, but I have been learning more about "being green" lately. Plastics use oil and our nation must decrease our consumption of oil. I don't really want to waste trees on paper bags either, but I choose paper when I don't have my own bags from home with me. (Ignore the cashier/bagger if they give you a look-it's easier for them to use a new plastic bag because of the spin around holder and they are not used to being green yet either) :o)