Green-minded residents in Alameda Country are to be given a reusable bag for their efforts to make the region more environmentally friendly.

Environmentally conscious residents in Alameda County, California, are to be rewarded for helping make the world a greener place by getting a suitable gift this Christmas.

As part of this year's annual Hometown Holiday Celebration, green-minded folk will be given a free, reusable shopping bag, which they can add to their collection of paper bags, reported The Alameda.

There is a slight catch however – they will have to give up their stock of plastic bags. That does seem fair though, as these will be recycled, thereby preventing any opportunity of it going to a landfill or blighting the environment as a piece of discarded rubbish.

It is a symbolic way to generate awareness and publicity of new laws that are coming into effect at the start of next year. From January 1st 2013, certain grocery stores in Alameda Country will be barred from stocking or selling plastic bags.

Consequently, not all shops and establishments are prohibited from dispensing plastic bags.

"The adopted ordinance covers the stores that traditionally distribute a high volume of single use bags," Becerra Starting, spokesman for the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, was quoted by the online news provider as saying.

"Starting with these stores allows for a program that can be fully funded within our current budget and gives us a chance to gauge the effectiveness of the ordinance."

If successful, a far-reaching ban could come into place by the end of 2013, which would certainly be impressive.

Cities in Alameda, which include Oakland, Fremont, Berkeley and Hayward, collectively spend around $24 million (approximately £15 million) a year clearing detritus out of storm drains, with plastic bags being the number one item responsible for blockages.

It was revealed earlier this year that Los Angeles, California, is to become the biggest city in America to outlaw plastic bags.

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