The graph illustrates the regional household recycling rates in the UK, France, and Germany from 2005 to 2015.
Overall, the recycling rates of the UK and Germany showed a steady but significant rise over the period, while the percentage of recycled waste in France experienced a downward trend.
In 2005, the recycling rates of the UK and Germany were nearly 35% and 20%, respectively. Germany’s rate increased sharply throughout the period, exceeding France’s rate in 2009 and reaching almost 60% by the end of the period. Meanwhile, the percentage of recycled waste in the UK grew to 40% in 2007 and then remained steady until 2009. During 2009 to 2011, it experienced a rapid surge to more than 50% and continued with a gradual increase to 60% in 2015.
In early 2005, the recycling rate of France (50%) was the highest among these three countries. However, it dramatically declined to 30% in 2013. Then, there was a growth of 10% in 2015, but France’s recycling rate was still the lowest by the end of the period.