California has filed a civil lawsuit against ExxonMobil, accusing the oil giant of orchestrating a “decades-long campaign of deception” over the effectiveness of plastics recycling.
According to Attorney General Rob Bonta, Exxon misled the public into believing recycling could solve the plastic waste crisis, despite allegedly knowing this was not a viable solution.
He said:
“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,”.
ExxonMobil’s Response
ExxonMobil fired back, placing the blame on California’s recycling system.
The company said in a statement:
“For decades, California officials have known their recycling system isn’t effective. They failed to act, and now they seek to blame others.”
An Exxon spokesperson added the company has processed over 60 million pounds (27 million kilograms) of plastic waste into usable raw materials.
Groundbreaking Legal Action
This lawsuit marks the first time at a US official has sought to hold an oil or gas company accountable for allegedly deceptive claims about plastics recycling.
Bonta’s office is demanding an unspecified sum, potentially amounting to “multiple billions of dollars,” to address the alleged damages caused by Exxon’s actions.
He added:
“ExxonMobil lied to further its [record]-breaking profits at the expense of our planet and possibly jeopardizing our health.”
Background: Previous Legal Battles and Industry Practices
The lawsuit follows a nearly two-year investigation by Bonta’s office into the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries’ role in global plastics pollution.
It isn’t the first time ExxonMobil has faced legal action from California. Last year, Bonta sued ExxonMobil along with four other oil giants over climate change damages.
The company’s role in the plastic industry is significant. According to a report by Australia’s Minderoo Foundation, ExxonMobil is the world’s largest producer of resins used in single-use plastics.
The lawsuit alleges ExxonMobil promoted its “advanced recycling” program as a solution to plastic waste. This is despite knowing it could only process a minimal fraction of the waste it generated.
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The Recycling Controversy
A major point of contention in the lawsuit is how ExxonMobil handles plastic waste.
The 147-page suit claims nearly all the plastic waste processed by the company has been converted into fuel rather than recycled into new plastic products.
This, Bonta argues, violated multiple state laws. These include those related to nuisance, natural resources, water pollution, false advertising, and unfair competition.
The issue extends beyond ExxonMobil.
According to a 2022 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the world produces over 400 million tons of plastic each year, but only nine percent is recycled.
What’s Next for ExxonMobil?
Fif ound guilty, , ExxonMobil may face significant financial and reputational consequences.
The lawsuit is part of a larger push by California to hold major corporations accountable for environmental damage and misrepresentation.
Looking Forward: The Broader Impact on Recycling
This legal action against ExxonMobil could set a precedent for future cases against other oil and gas companies involved in plastics production and recycling claims.
As the world grapples with an escalating plastic waste crisis, California’s lawsuit may act as a catalyst for more stringent regulations and corporate accountability in addressing environmental concerns.
