Bears don't take food from hikers (direct confiscation) because they know they will die, that's why I don't use any special food containers; I simply keep all my food in plastic bags which are in a simple nylon stuff sac and it all stays in the tent with me at night. They know we all have food on our backs and you've probably been spied on before while cooking/eating.
On the issue of plastic recycling, I'm a nut in this area and really try hard to reduce my plastic consumption as much as possible and I'm pretty much a fanatic at recycling all my plastic waste, including stuff I get at a restaurant I try and take home because I know it's probably going to end up in the trash otherwise -- I'm somewhat of a freak on this issue.
Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much if there are no recycling places along the AT, if there are great, but if not, don't fret.
Actually, plastics for the most part are not recycled, rather they are
Downcycled. And just because a package has a PETE marking on it doesn't mean it's going to be recycled (Downcycled); it'll probably just be sent to the landfill by the "recycling" center. Read more here:
http://ecoramblings.com/why-all-plas...t-be-recycled/