California Sues ExxonMobil Over Deceptive Plastic Recycling Claims

The landmark lawsuit accuses the oil giant of misleading the public for decades about the recyclability of plastics, exacerbating the global plastic pollution crisis.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against ExxonMobil, alleging a decades-long campaign of deception about plastic recycling.
The state argues that ExxonMobil's misleading marketing has led consumers to believe that plastic recycling is effective, despite the company's knowledge to the contrary.
Only about 5 to 6 percent of plastic waste in the U.S. is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills, incinerated, or polluting the environment.
ExxonMobil has promoted 'advanced recycling' as a solution, but critics argue it primarily turns plastic into fuel rather than new plastic, contributing to pollution.
The lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages to fund plastic waste cleanup and public education initiatives in California.