Overview
- The lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court alleges unlawful sale and distribution of single‑use bags plus misleading environmental marketing and unfair‑competition practices.
- Attorney General Rob Bonta says only two facilities reported accepting plastic bags statewide and neither confirmed actual recycling, despite on‑bag recyclability claims.
- Four other manufacturers previously settled, agreeing to halt California sales and pay about $1.753 million in penalties and fees after earlier suits launched in 2022.
- Bonta’s office says the seven companies supplied billions of bags to grocers while certifying compliance, yet many bags ended up in landfills, incinerators or the environment.
- Environmental groups praised the enforcement push, while critics argued the state’s standards are difficult to meet and warned of economic fallout; several companies declined comment or denied wrongdoing in settlements.