I have been using recycled beverage bottles , along with Nalgenes and various other water containers, including some stainless steel types, for years. I have never had a G bottle fail, even with extensive use.

Nalgenes are definitely tougher, but if durability is a real issue, one should probably go to stainless steel. The optimum water container is probably a collapsible unit (Platypus or equivalent) which takes up minimum space when not filled. i have not had any failures of those, either.

Any of these water containers should be placed in a metal cup, capacity 8 to 12 oz, and carried in an exterior pocket. Go titanium if your budget allows, but stainless steel is perfectly good (and better for cooking).

Plastics are pervasive in our environment, and constitute a definite problem, but I don't think recycling bottles will affect the situation one wa or another. The percentage of fluids I ingestfrom recycled bottlesis insignificant.