The table illustrates the amount of waste generated in six countries (Ireland, Japan, Korea, Poland, Portugal, and the US) over three specific years: 1980, 1990, and 2000. The figures are measured in millions of tons.
Overall, waste production in most countries experienced a significant increase over the two decades, with the United States consistently generating the largest amount. Korea was the only exception, showing a reduction in waste output between 1990 and 2000.
In 1980, the United States produced the highest quantity of waste at 131 million tons, followed by Japan with 28 million tons. Portugal and Ireland had considerably lower figures, at 2 and 0.6 million tons respectively. By 2000, the US’s waste output had surged to 192 million tons, maintaining its leading position. Similarly, Japan witnessed a notable rise, producing 53 million tons. Portugal’s waste production also tripled over the period, reaching 5 million tons, while Ireland experienced a slower increase to the same level.
In contrast, Korea’s data was unavailable for 1980 but showed 31 million tons in 1990, which then dropped significantly to 19 million tons by 2000. Poland maintained relatively stable waste levels, ranging from 4 million tons in 1980 to 6.6 million tons in 2000. This stability contrasts with the dramatic fluctuations observed in other countries.