As of Oct. 1, QFC will no longer offer single-use plastic bags in its five Bellevue stores.

Throughout the month of October, QFC will be donating 25 cents for each Zero Hunger/Zero Waste reusable bag sold at their five locations to the Hopelink food bank.

“Single-use plastic bags don’t fit in our vision for a world with zero waste. This is a bold move that will protect our planet for future generations,” QFC president Suzy Monford said in a press release.

In August, QFC announced it will be phasing out single-use plastic bags and transition to reusable bags from all of its stores by the end of 2019. Bellevue is the first market to make the transition.

OFC is a subsidiary of Kroger. Kroger has said it will be phasing out plastic bags from all its stores nationwide by 2025.

Executive director of Zero Waste Washington Heather Trim said she is pleased that Kroger is leading the way by taking action on phasing out plastic carry-home bags.

“These bags are a big problem for the environment and also are clogging our recycling facilities. Workers have to close down the whole recycling line and go in and cut the bags off the rollers and equipment,” Trim said.