Jersey City is now the largest city in the state to ban single-use disposable plastic bags and non-recyclable paper bags.

Officials say that New Jersey shoppers use 4.5 billion plastic bags every year. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop says that he hopes that this number will go down due to the ban in his city. The mayor launched the bag ban by visiting grocery stores throughout the city today and handing out reusable bags.

“Our goal is just to do our part in making sure the planet is a better place than the way we found it,” Fulop said. “Jersey City wants to be a leader in that front.”

Jersey City is also giving free reusable bags to low-income families, as officials do not want to create a burden for anyone who can’t afford to buy them.

Shoppers will now have to bring their own bags or purchase reusable bags from a store.

Jersey City now joins Hoboken, which banned plastic bags in January.