California Sues ExxonMobil Over 50-Year Plastic Recycling Deception and Pollution

Sep 23, 2024, 06:10 PM

California has filed a landmark lawsuit against ExxonMobil, accusing the oil giant of misleading the public about the recyclability of plastic products. The lawsuit, announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alleges that ExxonMobil engaged in a 50-year campaign of deception, promoting plastic recycling despite knowing it was not economically feasible. This campaign, according to the lawsuit, has significantly contributed to the global plastic pollution crisis. The state, along with several environmental groups including Surfrider, the Sierra Club, Heal the Bay, and San Francisco Baykeeper, seeks to hold ExxonMobil accountable for its role in exacerbating plastic waste pollution. The lawsuit highlights that less than 5% of plastic is recycled into another plastic product in the U.S., even though items are labeled as recyclable. It also targets the company's promotion of single-use plastic products. The lawsuit aims to prohibit ExxonMobil from making false or misleading statements about plastics recycling and to establish an abatement fund to address the pollution caused.