California sues ExxonMobil over plastics recycling claims – USA

Posted on September 25, 2024 by DrRossH in Plastic Recycling

California is suing ExxonMobil Corp., alleging the company has misled the public about plastics recycling for decades.

Source: California sues ExxonMobil over plastics recycling claims | Sustainable Plastics

Bonta’s lawsuit attempts a brutal takedown of plastics and plastics recycling. Now the state has to prove the allegations in Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco, where the lawsuit was filed.

“Plastics are everywhere, from the deepest parts of our oceans, the highest peaks on earth, and even in our bodies, causing irreversible damage — in ways known and unknown — to our environment and potentially our health,” Bonta said in announcing the lawsuit.

“The plastics industry has known for decades that — unlike paper and glass and metal — plastics are not designed to be recycled and therefore do not achieve a high recycling rate.” 

In a statement, Bonta said: “For decades, ExxonMobil has been deceiving the public to convince us that plastic recycling could solve the plastic waste and pollution crisis when they clearly knew this wasn’t possible.