The bar chart illustrates the proportions of four types of waste that were recycled in a particular town between 2000 and 2010.
Overall, recycling rates for all waste types increased over the ten-year period, with metal experiencing the most significant growth and plastic remaining the least recycled item throughout the timeframe.
In 2000, plastic had the lowest recycling rate, at just 10%. Paper and metal were recycled at similar rates, both around 12%, whereas cans had the highest rate, approximately 13%, By 2005, small increases were observed for plastic and paper, reaching about 12% and 18%, respectively. Metal recycling rose sharply sharply to nearly 30%, surpassing all other materials, while the percentage of cans recycled dipped slightly to 12%.
By 2010, recycling of all waste types had increased significantly. Metal reached the highest rate at 40%, followed by cans at around 35%, and paper at approximately 29%. Plastic recycling remained the lowest, although it grew steadily by the end of the period.