Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Ulster County lawmakers put brakes on a proposal to ban the use of plastic bags this week. The Ulster County Legislature sent the measure back to the Energy and Environment Committee on Aug. 14. In June, at a public hearing, only three of 22 speakers were against banning plastic bags. The three speakers included the head of the New York State Association of Convenience Stores and the store manager of ShopRite in the town of Ulster. Legislator Tracey Bartels said she believes the ban would have passed if a vote were taken this week. But, “There were comments that were raised by the food industry alliance that talked about the need for a (State Environmental Quality Review Act) review,” Bartels said. The Bring Your Own Bag Act would ban the use of single-use plastic shopping bags in Ulster County, except at restaurants, and make stores charge five cents for recyclable paper bags provided to customers. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.