New Delhi, Jun 7 (KNN) GIZ, UNEP and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MEFCC) will organize a two-months long awareness campaign on plastic waste management and elimination of identified single use plastic items.

Plastic waste has emerged as a serious threat to the environment. Considering the adverse impacts of littered plastic waste on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call to phase out single use plastic by 2022.

Littered plastic waste on land is recognized as a major source of marine plastic litter. Plastic waste management on the land side will significantly contribute to the reduction in generation of marine plastic litter. The United Nations has designated 8th June as World Oceans Day.

''Accordingly, it has been decided to launch a two-month awareness generation programme on plastic waste management and elimination of identified single use plastic items on 8th June 2021,'' a mail from the Ministry of Environment read.

Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Environment Forest & Climate Change has kindly consented to launch the awareness campaign on single use plastics-2021.

The ministry had notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, for handling plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner. Further, the Ministry has issued a draft notification on March 11th, 2021 for amending the Plastic.

Waste Management Rules, 2016, with respect to prohibiting identified SUP items following a phase out schedule in 2022. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has played an important role in the development of solid waste management infrastructure in the country.

''Awareness generation on plastic waste management and reduction in use of single-use plastic items will be important in bringing about behavioural change,'' the mail said.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) & GIZ India are the knowledge partners while FICCI is the industry partner for the campaign.