Egypt working on strategy to curb production of single-use plastic bags

An example of sound policy — gov’t to set incentives for plastic producers to curb production of single-use bags: The Environment Ministry is working on a strategy to curb the use of single-use plastic bags, whose local production has reached 2 mn tonnes per annum, Al Mal reported. The ministry is working with the Trade and Industry Ministry, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and other entities to come up withincentives for producers, Environment Minister Yasmin Fouad said without giving details. The European Union has granted the ministry USD 2 mn to fund scientific studies for the initiative, Fouad said on the sidelines of a workshop on single-use bags in Spain. The ministry is also considering EUR 6 mn in subsidies to plastic producers to build new production lines of biodegradable bags. It has also inked agreements with 8 large retailers to use biodegradable bags, Fouad said.