The graph below shows waste recycling rates in the U.S. from 1960 to 2011.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
National Recycling Rates, US, 1960 to 2011
Model Answer:
The line chart outlines how much waste was recycled in the US between 1960 and 2011. The garbage recycling is presented both in quantity, in million tons, and percentage. Generally speaking, waste recycling in the US after 1985 increased remarkably despite a big proportion of litter remained unrecycled.
As the data suggests, 5.6 million tons rubbish was recycled in the USA in 1960 which accounted for 6.4% of the trash production in this year. The recycling in 1965 slightly declined but increased in 1970 when 6.6% waste recycling took place. In 1980, more than 14 million tons of garbage was recycled and it developed by almost 2% after 5 years. After a decade, 16% of total waste was recycled and this ratio after that increased steadily.
Almost one-third of the surplus was recycled in 2005 which amounted nearly 80 million tons. A through observation indicates that a great percentage of scrap in the US is not recycled. For instance, 80 million tons, about 31% waste recycling figure in the US shows that another 160 million tons are not recycled. Finally, in 2011, more than one-third rubbish was recycled which accounted for around 87 million tons of waste produced in the USA.
