The pie charts compare the proportions of different types of waste disposed of in one country in 1960 and 2011.
Overall, while most waste categories grew in share over the period, textiles and the “other” category declined noticeably. Paper made up the largest proportion in 1960, whereas food and plastic became the dominant forms of waste by 2011.
In 1960, paper was the main source of waste, accounting for one quarter of the total (25%). Food waste and the “other” category represented an equal proportion, at 12% each, followed by green waste at 9%. Plastic and metal contributed smaller but similar figures of 8%, while glass and wood stood at 5% and 4%, respectively.
By 2011, the distribution of waste had shifted considerably. Food waste rose sharply to 21% and plastic almost doubled to 18%, making them the leading categories. Wood and metal also experienced modest increases, reaching 8% and 9%, respectively. In contrast, textiles fell from 17% to 11%, and the “other” category dropped significantly from 12% to just 4%. Meanwhile, the shares of glass and green waste remained unchanged at 5% and 9%.