What do the numbers on bottom of bottles indicate?

I recently came across another chain mail, about the numbers below plastic bottles we use. Every plastic bottle  has a number (generally within a triangle) written at the bottom, ranging from one to seven. Now this Hoax Chain Mail claims that the number indicates how many times that particular plastic is recycled in reverse order.

In reality the number registered has nothing to do with the number of times plastic has been recycled.  It’s just the type of plastic which is used for that particular bottle. 5 is polypropylene and 1 is PET that is polyethlyene terephthalate etc etc. The numbers below is useful while sorting the collected bottles while recycling. In other words it is plastic identification number.

1 – PET, polyethlyene terephthalate
2 – HDPE, high-density polyethylene
3 – PVC, polyvinyl chloride
4 – LDPE, low-density polyethylene
5 – PP, polypropylene
6 – PS/PS-E, polystyrene / expanded polystyrene
7 – OTHER, resins or multi-materials

What do Those Numbers on the Bottom of Plastic Bottles Mean?

Google yourself if you want to read more. But please do not panic if you receive the same chain mail tomorrow.

Here is copy paste of that mail

 

How to avoid:

Check on the bottom of the bottle there is a triangle sign and there will be a number on it. If the number is higher than or equal to 5 –> then this bottle is safe to use.

Whatever number under 5, will release the chemical. For most bottle water, the number is 1.

Did you know chemical released by plastic water bottles can cause cancer

(It is not the water that affecting you but the chemical releasing from the bottle)

Pass this to all your friends and also make them aware of it…

How to avoid:Check on the bottom of the bottle there is a triangle sign and there will be a number on it. If the number is higher than or equal to 5 –> then this bottle is safe to use.
Whatever number under 5, will release the chemical. For most bottle water, the number is 1.
Did you know chemical released by plastic water bottles can cause cancer

(It is not the water that affecting you but the chemical releasing from the bottle)

Pass this to all your friends and also make them aware of it…