MoEFCC Organizes Workshop on ‘Effective Plastic Waste Management to Tackle Plastic Pollution’

Under the aegis of the "India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative," the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, Royal Norwegian Embassy, New Delhi, and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today organised a virtual workshop on "Effective Plastic Waste Management to Tackle Plastic Pollution."

Policymakers, city-level officials from municipalities in India and Norway, the State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Urban Development, research and academic groups were all present at the workshop. The presenters from Oslo and Stavanger, Norway, as well as the Indian cities of Indore and Ambikapur, highlighted their best practices and experiences in managing plastic garbage and acknowledged that it is a global issue.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India and the Norwegian Environment Agency of Norway both recognized policy and regulatory frameworks for minimizing single-use plastics and effective plastic waste management in their respective nations.

The Ministry of Environment of Forest, Forest and Climate Change's Additional Secretary reaffirmed the crucial role that municipal entities play in managing plastic waste and the need for effective engagement from all stakeholders in order to ensure successful plastic waste management, including the implementation of the ban on specific single-use plastic items, which will take effect on July 1, 2022.

The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy noted that plastic pollution is a widespread, global issue and that it is critical for nations to exchange best practices and experiences. She also expressed the hope that the discussions on efficient plastic waste management today would allow us to learn from one another.

According to the Head of UNEP India Country Office, India is moving forward with a historic ban on select single-use plastics beginning July 1, 2022, and urban local bodies, pollution control boards, industries, research institutes, and the general public have a huge responsibility to contribute to the ban's success and switch to alternatives.

During the meeting, municipalities were reminded of the ban on identified single-use plastic items, which will take effect on July 1, 2022. The officials were asked to lead their teams within their jurisdiction, focusing their efforts on enforcing the ban, which was announced on August 12, 2021.

It was also requested that it assist all stakeholders, including traders, retailers, distributors, and consumers, in transitioning to alternatives to banned SUP items. The Ministry reiterated that the ban's success is contingent on effective engagement and collaborative actions by all stakeholders.