KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- When it comes to waste and recycling, those who grew up in the 1990s will remember this familiar tune:

"Recycle, yes it's true,

Recycle, that's the thing to do,

Recycle, state your case,

Don't let it go to waste."

This jingle accompanied a recycling campaign launched in the '90s.

The song is no longer played today, but has Malaysia made progress in recycling over the years?

According to Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, significant progress has been made only since 2015, when waste separation became mandatory under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.

He said the national recycling rate more than doubled from 15.7 per cent to 35.38 per cent in 2023.

However, this sti...