Ministry of environment urges citizens to use less plastic bags

CAIRO - 9 May 2018: The provincial office of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) in Mansoura, Dakahlia, has announced an initiative for reducing the use of plastic bags and using instead the more eco-friendly woven bags.

This came within the framework of celebrating World Environment Day 2018 to be marked on June 5, 2018 under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution".

The Ministry of Environment has also organized a symposium on the risks of plastic pollution where the ministry's efforts to preserve biological diversity have been spotlighted, the ministry said in statement on Wednesday.

In addition, the EEAA-affiliated general administration for environmental culture and awareness took part in the activities of the "Environmental Week" organized by Minya University in coordination with the provincial EEAA office in Minya governorate.

These activities included a symposium on environment and sustainable development, biological diversity and workshops on carton recycling.

Such activities are part of a national initiative aimed at changing the behavior of consumers, familiarizing citizens with the negative effects of using plastic bags and urging them to seek other alternatives such as paper, multi-use and biodegradable bags, which are both safer and more eco-friendly.

World Environment Day is marked on June 5 each year. It began in 1974 and ever since every World Environment Day has a different global host country, where the official celebrations take place.

The focus on the host country helps highlight the environmental challenges it faces, and supports the effort to address them. This year's host is India, according to a UN official website.