A Virtual Workshop on “Effective Plastic Waste Management to Tackle Plastic Pollution” was organized under the aegis of the “India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative” by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, Royal Norwegian Embassy, New Delhi  and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today.

The workshop witnessed the presence of policy makers, city level authorities from municipalities of India and Norway, State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee, Department of Environment, Department of Urban Development, research and academic organizations. The speakers from the Indian cities of Indore and Ambikapur complemented by Norwegian cities of Oslo and Stavanger shared their best practices and experiences in managing plastic waste and recognized that plastic waste is a global concern. Policy and regulatory frameworks for reducing single-use plastics and effective plastic waste management, from both the countries were highlighted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and Norwegian Environment Agency, Government of Norway.

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment of Forest, Forest and Climate Change reiterated the important role of municipal bodies in managing plastic waste and that effective engagement is needed by all stakeholders to ensure effective plastic waste management including the success of the ban on identified single-use plastic items, which will come into effect from 1^st July 2022. The Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Norway mentioned that plastic pollution is a global, common problem and that it is important to share experiences and best practices across nations and also hoped that today’s exchanges on effective plastic waste management would help us to learn from each other. The Head of UNEP India Country Office  cited that India is moving ahead with a historic ban on select single-use plastics from 1st July 2022, and the urban local bodies, pollution control boards, industries, research institutes and the public at large have a huge responsibility to contribute towards the success of the ban and switch to alternatives.

In the course of the meeting, the municipalities were reminded of the ban on identified single-use plastic items, which will come into effect from 1^st July 2022. The officials were requested to lead their teams within their jurisdiction, focussing their efforts for the enforcement of the ban, which was notified on 12^th August 2021. It was further requested to help all stakeholders including traders, retailers, distributors as well as consumers to transition to over to alternatives of banned SUP items. The Ministry reiterated that the success of the ban will be possible with effective engagement and collaborative actions by all stakeholders.

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