Patricia R. Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman the Ulster County ban on single-use plastic retail bags takes effect Mon., July 15. That means supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores and other retail establishments in the county will no longer be allowed to use the bags for purchases. Stores can offer patrons paper bags, but those bags will cost 5 cents each.During a press conference July 12, at Kingston Plaza, County Executive Pat Ryan called on residents to get ready for the change, saying people have a moral obligation to take action. Ulster County is the 415th municipality in 27 states to adopt some sort of single-use plastic bag ban, said Judith Enck, a former regional director for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the founder of Beyond Plastics. It's been estimated that more than 100 million single-use plastic bags are used each year in the United States. The bags are considered by some to be a scourge on the environment because they are not biodegradable. Although the law is now in effect, the county will refrain from issuing fines for noncompliance until Jan. 1, 2020. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.