The present chart illustrates how certain materials have been recycled over a period of 28 years, more exactly from 1982 to 2012 in a specific country.
We can see that paper and cardboard has the highest recycling percentage. Starting at around 65% in 1982, it had a fluctuating period of time, rising to 70% in 1986 and falling slowly back to 65% in 1990. A steep increase took place in 1994, jumping to 80%, this being the highest recycling percentage present in the whole chart. Following that, the numbers hadhave fallen consistently, reaching 70% in 2010.
Second on our list, we can see the glass containers, which followed a similar trend to the previously mentioned one, having a slightlyslight fall from 50% to 40% in the first 8 years, then rising consistently to 60% in 2010.
A major improvement is represented by the recyclerecycling of the aluminum cans, which started later, in 1986, and had a dramatic improvement from 5% to an impressive 45% over 24 years.
OnIn contrast, plasticsplastic recycling starterstarted later on, during 1990, and had a fairly steady increase, reaching only just only 8% in 2010.
Overall, apart from paper and cardboard, the recycling industry has made major improvements, increasing their numbers onin all the other materials used.