Modi Tells UN India Launching Campaign to Stamp Out Single-Use Plastic

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, Sept. 27, 2019.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations on Friday that India was launching a campaign to stamp out the use of single-use plastics.

"Even as I am addressing you today, a very large campaign is being started across the entire country to make India free of single-use plastic," Modi, who wants to scrap such plastics by 2022, told the 193-member U.N. General Assembly.

Officials told Reuters last month that India is set to impose a nationwide ban on plastic bags, cups and straws on Oct. 2.