The table illustrates the amount of waste production in six different countries, namely Ireland, Japan, Korea, Poland, Portugal, and the USA- across the years 1980, 1990, and 2000.
Overall, while the value of waste production in Ireland, Japan, Poland, Portugal, and the USA increased significantly over the period, Korea experienced a consistent decline in production.
In 1980, the USA accounted for the largest figure of waste production, at 131 million tonnes. The figure rose sharply to 151 million tonnes in 1990 and further increase to 192 million tonnes by 2000. Japan showed a similar upward trend, rising from 28 million tonnes in 1980 to 32 million tonnes in 1990, and then 53 million tonnes by 2000. Likewise, the value of Poland increased slightly, from 4 million tonnes in 1980 to 5 million tonnes in 1990, and 6.6 million tonnes by 2000. Moreover,Portugal started at just 2 million tonnes in 1980 and then to 3 million tonnes in 1990 and 5 million tonnes by 2000.
In contrast, Ireland began at just 0.6 million tonnes in 1980 and climbed significantly to 3 million tonnes in 1980 and then to 5 million tonnes by 2000. Finally, Korea experienced a graudal fluctuation trend, from 28 million tonnes in 1980 to 31 million tonnes in 1990 and 19 million tonnes by 2000.
