LOS ANGELES – Soon, Los Angeles residents will not be able to carry home groceries in plastic bags, with the ban on single-use bags going into effect Jan. 1, Los Angeles Times. To ease the transition, city officials have joined with environmental organizations and nonprofits to hand out reusable totes made from repurposed or recycled materials.

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz, a leader of the ban, has raised funds to make the reusable bags to give to residents for free. Last summer, the council voted to ban plastic bags in all stores, with the idea of giving away a million reusable bags to residents.

This batch of bags have been made by Green Vets L.A., a nonprofit that employs veterans. Homeboy Industries, which provides employment to ex-gang members, puts screen prints on the totes.

In January, big stores will not be able to hand out single-use plastic bags, while smaller retailers will have until July 1 to stop using plastic bags. Merchants can sell paper bags at a dime each, but the city council hopes shoppers will switch to reusable bags instead.