The chart above shows EPA data regarding municipal solid waste (MSW) recycled and composted in the United States. Composting is a method of recycling food scraps and yard trimmings. Which of the following statements about the percent of generation recycled and composted is supported by the data?

Question

In the 25 years span from 1960 thru 1985, the percent of recycling remained unchanged.
By 2017, the percent of recycling nearly tripled from 1987.
After 1985, the total MSW recycled rose from approximately 16.7 million tons to 55.8 million tons in 2005.
Since 1960, the United States has significantly increased recycling while lowering the amount of municipal solid waste.

Answer 1

Based on the data regarding municipal solid waste (MSW) recycled and composted in the United States that you provided, the statement that is most likely supported by the data is:

"By 2017, the percent of recycling nearly tripled from 1987."

This statement typically reflects a trend of increasing recycling rates over the years. However, to verify any of the statements accurately, one would need to analyze the exact figures and trends presented in the chart. The other statements may contain inaccuracies or require additional context to confirm their validity. For example, the claim regarding the percent of recycling remaining unchanged from 1960 to 1985 would need to be contrasted with the actual data trends for that period. Similarly, verifying the specific tonnage increase would require precise figures for those years.