I complied a bar graph that showed the percentage increase in the number of different materials that was increased from 1960 on. This shows that through the years the amount of things recycled has increased along with having more things being able to be recycled. This could be caused by the increase in education and the advancements in technology.
| 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and Paperboard | 17% | 15% | 21% | 28% | 43% | 50% | 63% | 67% | 66% | 68% |
| Glass | 2% | 1% | 5% | 20% | 23% | 21% | 27% | 28% | 25% | 25% |
| Plastics | Neg. | Neg. | <1% | 2% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Yard Trimmings | Neg. | Neg. | Neg. | 12% | 52% | 62% | 58% | 61% | 69% | 63% |
| Lead-acid Batteries | Neg. | 76% | 70% | 97% | 93% | 96% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
Data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes, and Recycling.
(sorry if the image is blurry- my laptop was being difficult)
Interesting to see how highly used batteries became in 1960 and 1970. Also interesting how every material increased in recycling and composting.
Awesome and positive to see an increase in most materials yearly. This can be due to education of sustainability.
Thank you for sharing. It is relieving to see statistically we are recycling more. technology has definitely contributed to informing a large population and keeping them aware.
It’s great that more things are being made recyclable! It’s so sad to think that only a small percentage of recyclable items are actually recycled, and so hopefully your chart looks like what the future looks like!