The line graph gives the information about recycling rate (in percentages)for four selected materials — paper & cardboard, glass containers , aluminum cans and plastic during a 28-year period from 1982 to 2010
Overall, paper and cardboard had the highest recycling rates throughout the period, while plastic had the lowest. Aluminum cans and glass containers showed a steady increase in recycling rates, whereas paper and cardboard experienced fluctuations before declining.
In 1982, approximately 65% of paper and cardboard were recycled. This figure rose to a peak of around 80% in the mid-1990s before experiencing a gradual decline, reaching about 70% in 2010. Meanwhile, the recycling rate for glass containers started at around 50% in 1982, fluctuated slightly, and then steadily increased to about 60% by the end of the period.
Aluminum cans had a sharp increase in recycling rates. Starting at nearly 5% in 1986, the percentage rose consistently, reaching around 50% in 2010. In contrast, plastic had the lowest recycling rates, starting below 5% and experiencing only a slight increase to around 10% by 2010, making it the least recycled material over the years.