The graph below 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, and make 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

Linking Words

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

then

Linking Words

on,

however

Linking Words

, 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

Linking Words

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

on the other hand

Linking Words

, was not introduced until 1990 and,

although

Linking Words

the growth in

this

Linking Words

category was

also

Linking Words

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

Overall

Linking Words

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

this

Linking Words

category experienced a decline after 1994,

whereas

Linking Words

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