California Sues ExxonMobil Over Allegations of Misleading Claims on Plastic Recycling

California has filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, accusing the oil company of misleading the public regarding the effectiveness of plastic recycling and its contribution to the ongoing pollution crisis.

The lawsuit, which was filed on Monday in San Francisco County Superior Court, marks a significant legal action as it is the first of its kind aimed at holding a major oil and gas company accountable for alleged deceptive practices related to plastic waste.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta claims that ExxonMobil has engaged in a “decades-long campaign of deception” to convince the public that plastic recycling could effectively address the plastic waste problem. The lawsuit contends that only a small percentage of plastic—estimated at around 9% globally and between 5 to 6% in the US—is actually recycled, despite widespread consumer belief in the recyclability of these materials.

“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,” Bonta stated.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and aims to compel ExxonMobil to cease its allegedly deceptive practices.

The legal action follows an investigation launched by Bonta’s office in April 2022, which sought to examine the fossil fuel industry’s role in exacerbating plastic pollution. As part of this inquiry, ExxonMobil was subpoenaed, leading to the discovery of internal documents that allegedly reveal the company’s knowledge of the limited recyclability of plastics.

The complaint, consisting of 147 pages, alleges that ExxonMobil’s promotion of the recycling symbol—known as the “chasing arrows”—misleads consumers into thinking that all plastics are recyclable. Additionally, the lawsuit criticizes the company’s “advanced recycling” program, asserting that it misrepresents the potential for recycling while concealing significant technical limitations. According to the complaint, more than 90% of plastic waste processed by ExxonMobil is converted into fuel rather than new plastic products.

Environmental advocates have praised the lawsuit as a crucial step in addressing the plastic pollution crisis. Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, described the case as “the most significant plastics lawsuit in the nation.” Similarly, Christy Leavitt from Oceana emphasized the urgent need for reducing single-use plastic production rather than relying on ineffective recycling efforts.

In response to the lawsuit, ExxonMobil has attributed the plastic waste issue to California’s recycling system, asserting that state officials have been aware of its inefficacies for decades. A spokesperson for ExxonMobil claimed that rather than suing, the state should collaborate with the company to address the problem.

With input from the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and CBS News.