Plastic bag ban in Hurghada - Progress

[samaka]

Copied from the latest HEPCA news letter.

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HEPCA is pleased to announce the success of the campaign to make the Red Sea the first plastic bag free governorate in Egypt. Following the decree issued earlier this year by HE General Magdi Kubeissi, Governor of the Red Sea, the ban on plastic bags has been overwhelmingly supported by businesses and individuals in the region. This is a great accomplishment of which we can all be proud.

Paper bags are currently being supplied by the large majority of retailers including supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses. Paper has a significantly lower impact on the environment than plastic but we need to minimise the use of ALL bags.

By far the most environmentally friendly solution is for bag users to REUSE existing bags, and switch to cloth bags where possible. So far HEPCA has distributed 50,000 cloth bags for free in the Red Sea area to support the decree.

HEPCA would like to thank everyone who has contributed in support of this campaign. Special thanks are due to HE the Governor and all our partners and sponsors including Egyptian Resorts Company (Developer of Sahl Hasheesh) and Barclays Bank. In addition, HEPCA would like to thank those working in the vocational training centres in Hurghada, Safaga and Ras Gharib, where many additional job opportunities were created for women manufacturing the cloth bags for this campaign.

Please continue to support this campaign and add pressure to those who do not comply with the ban. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to help keep the Red Sea plastic bag free.
Find out more about HEPCA projects and campaigns at www.hepca.com

[TSandM]

This is wonderful.

Having just had my first taste of the amazingly healthy environment of the Red Sea, I applaud HEPCA for its efforts toward conserving and preserving that environment. It would be a shame to see the Red Sea reefs go the way the South Pacific has. (Not that the South Pacific is suffering from plastic bags, mind you.)

[Louie]

Great stuff! Congratulations to all participants and supporters.

Hope the programme - along with the others carried out by HEPCA - are successful in preserving the health of the ocean and marine life in the Red Sea. Hopefully, it'll be an example for other coastal resorts and communities to follow.

It's absolutely dreadful seeing reefs and shorelines littered - and sometimes ruined - by plastic bags and other refuse. Lets hope the people and communities everywhere take this on board and see the economic and environmental benefits of good environmental management.

[Red Sea Shadow]

I hope it's not just another marketing hype.

I'm currently in the Red Sea governorate (yesterday night I was in Hurghada and now I'm in Safaga). Unfortunately I didn't notice any change.

[Solly]

well, I was in hurghada couple of weeks ago and I noticed that abo ashara supermarket chain started to use paper bags, true charging you for them but it was ok. Also couple of take away restaurants gave us the food in paper bags... so I think it is starting and I hope it continues...

[drbill]

Glad to see you well ahead of us here in SoCal... looks like another reason to visit and dive there. Of course they need to replace the paper bags with reusable cloth ones, too.

[sailingk8]

Great jump in the right direction! Wish we could get that moving here in Virginia Beach. I'm sure the sea turtles and their sea neighbors would appreciate that very much!

[Peter_C]

supermarket chain started to use paper bags, true charging you for them but it was ok.

Well if they are no longer offering plastic and charging for paper, people will quickly adopt reusable cloth bags. Plus a cloth bag can carry twice as much weight without breaking. Cloth bags are far superior in many ways, and are better at standing upright. If you happen to forget your bags in the car, just have them load the groceries back in the cart and when you get to your vehicle put them into your bags.

I read Seattle Washington had a bill to tax plastic bags, but it didn't pass...bummer. It does sound like the world is changing although a little too slowly, and unfortunately in other countries much faster than the US who should be the leader in environmental processes. "In 2001, Ireland consumed 1.2 billion plastic bags, or 316 per person. An extremely successful plastic bag consumption tax, or PlasTax, introduced in 2002 reduced consumption by 90%."

[sailingk8]

I'm so bad, I went to store today with my giant canvas bag and made a point to look disdainfully at everyone walking out with a cart full of plastic bags. Some had the decency to look ashamed. :D

[samaka]

I'm so bad, I went to store today with my giant canvas bag and made a point to look disdainfully at everyone walking out with a cart full of plastic bags. Some had the decency to look ashamed. :D

Good on you girl!

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