Starting Jan. 1 the city law that bans grocery stores and markets from giving out plastic disposable bags goes into effect.

Are you ready?

Today L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge will be at a Pavilions handing out reusable bags for your convenience. He's calling himself a …

… “special guest bagger” for the day. Really.

L.A. will become the largest city in the nation to ban disposable grocery bags. Then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed the ban into law after the council passed it in June.

Some critics are alleging that the law is a sweetheart deal for the big market chains, which can now charge customers for disposable bags instead of giving them away.

See also: Is L.A.'s Plastic Bag Ban a New Way For Stores to Charge You More?

American Progressive Bag Alliance chairman Mark Daniels had this to say after the ordinance's passage:

… The California Grocers Association continues to peddle this bag ban and tax scam around the state because big grocers stand to make millions from collecting every penny of the tax on paper bags.

Anyway, here's your chance to save some dough.

LaBonge will be at the Pavilions at 727 Vine St. in Hollywood at 9 a.m. to hand out free reusable bags and “help Angelenos make the transition,” according to a statement from his office.

Vons and Pavilions will be giving out reusable bags through Jan. 11 “while supplies last,” his office says.

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