USA – The state of California has filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, accusing the oil and gas giant of misleading the public about the effectiveness of its plastic recycling efforts.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, follows a nearly two-year investigation into the role of the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries in global plastic pollution.
The suit alleges that ExxonMobil’s “advanced recycling” program was falsely marketed as a viable solution for plastic waste, despite the company allegedly knowing that it could only process a small fraction of the plastic it produces.
Instead, most of the plastic waste handled by ExxonMobil has reportedly been converted into fuel rather than recycled.
California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, announced the lawsuit during Climate Week in New York City, stating, “This lawsuit provides the clearest picture yet of ExxonMobil’s decades-long deception.
“We are asking the court to hold ExxonMobil fully accountable for its role in actively creating and worsening the plastics pollution crisis through its misinformation campaign.”
The 147-page lawsuit accuses ExxonMobil of violating state laws related to nuisance, natural resources, water pollution, false advertising, and unfair competition.
It marks the first time U.S. officials have attempted to hold a fossil fuel company accountable for misleading the public about plastic recycling, with potential financial penalties that could reach billions of dollars.
ExxonMobil has denied the allegations, criticizing California’s recycling system instead. A company spokesperson argued, “For decades, California officials have known their recycling system is ineffective. They place blame elsewhere rather than work with us to fix the problem.”
ExxonMobil also highlighted its efforts, claiming to have processed over 60 million pounds of plastic waste into usable raw materials, keeping it out of landfills.
Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, which have filed similar claims in the same court, further support the lawsuit.
Newsom signs law banning plastic shopping bags at supermarkets
Meanwhile, on 23 September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law to phase out plastic shopping bags at grocery stores by 2026, as part of the state’s broader efforts to combat plastic pollution.
Passed by state legislators last month, the new measure mandates a complete ban on all plastic shopping bags, encouraging consumers to either bring their own reusable bags or opt for paper bags.
State senator Catherine Blakespear, a proponent of the bill, highlighted the failure of consumers to reuse or recycle plastic bags, citing a state study that showed a significant increase in per capita plastic bag waste over the years.
The move by California adds to the growing number of US states with similar bans, with Environment America Research & Policy Center noting that 12 of 50 states now have statewide plastic bag prohibitions, and numerous cities across 28 states have enacted their own bans.
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