Band 7+: Task 1 – Take a look at the chart below and perform the task as outlined: This graph shows the proportion of four different materials that were recycled from 1982 to 2010 in a particular country. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, making comparisons where relevant.

This graph illustrates the percentages of recycling of four materials (paper and cardboard, glass containers, aluminium cans and plastics) in a non-specified country between 1982 and 2010.

Overall, paper and cardboard are the most recycled material, followed in order by glass containers and aluminium cans, while plastics has the lowest recycling rate.

The most recycled material, paper and cardboard, started from a recycling rate of about 65% in 1982, then faced a small increase to 70% by 1986, followed by a decrease to 65% in 1990. This material then peaked its recycling in 1994 to an 80% rate, facing then a steady decline to 70% till 2010. On the other hand, for the lowest recycled material, plastics, the graph reports data only from 1990, showing a small regular increase from less than 5% to less than 10% by 2010.

Glass containers started from a 50% rate in 1982, then fell to 40% by 1990, and steadily rose again through years until 2010, reaching a 60% rate peak. The graph shows data only from 1986 for aluminium cans, which saw a steady but important increase from about 5% rate to a solid 45% rate.