The decision is part of the "No to Plastic Bags" initiative, spearheaded by the Environmental Affairs Authority in Alexandria under the patronage of the minister of environment and the governor of Alexandria.

The initiative aims to replace plastic bags with safe alternatives, setting a timetable to prevent the distribution of any free plastic bags or violating standard specifications.

Alexandria - known as the Jewel of the Mediterranean - is the country's second largest city with a population of more than five million and its historic beaches attract millions of Egyptian holiday-makers in summer.

In March, Sharm El-Sheikh, the popular tourist hub on the Red Sea in South Sinai, announced that the city will become completely free of single-use plastic bags as of this June, in parallel with various other measures to turn it into a green city, as part of its preparation to host the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) this November.

The Alexandrian authorities will provide support to plastic bag manufacturers for the production of safe alternatives, promoting various short and long-term technological solutions to manufacture fully biodegradable bags.

Moreover, the initiative will also comprise a campaign to raise awareness about the danger of single-use plastic bags on the environment and public health in the governorate.