This graph shows the proportion of four different materials that were recycled from 1982 to 2010 in a particular country. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, making comparisons where relevant.

The chart shows the percentages of paper and cardboard, glass containers, aluminium cans and plastics that were recycled in one country between 1982 and 2010. In 1982, about 65% of paper and cardboard was recycled.

This

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figure fluctuated before rising steeply to reach a peak of 80% in 1994. From

then

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on,

however

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, it decreased steadily to a level of 70% in 2010. In 1982, half of all glass containers were recycled; after dipping to a low of 40% in 1990, the glass recycling rate gradually increased to 60% by 2010. Aluminium cans were first recycled in 1986, starting at about 5%, but

this

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figure climbed rapidly over 25 years and by 2010 it had reached 45%. Recycling of plastics,

on the other hand

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, was not introduced until 1990 and,

although

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the growth in

this

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category was

also

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constant, it was very slow, rising from about 2% to around 8% over the period.

Overall

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, the proportion of paper and cardboard that was recycled was the highest of the four classes of material, but

this

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category experienced a decline after 1994,

whereas

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there was a continuing upward trend in the recycling of the other materials.