CA Accuses Exxon Of 'Decades Of Deception' In Plastic Recycling 'Myth'

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil on Monday, accusing the company of pushing a "decades-long campaign of deception" that intensified a global pollution crisis and misled the public about the recyclability of plastics.

In a first-of-its-kind complaint, Bonta says one of the world's largest petrochemical companies has run "slick" and misleading public campaigns that promised recycling would help reduce the plastic waste that ExxonMobil produces. The suit was prompted by previously unseen internal documents about the company's role in perpetuating the recycling myth.

Bonta is demanding the company cease "deceptive practices that threaten the environment and the public." He also aims to hold Exxon accountable by securing an abatement and civil pentalties for the harm inflicted on the state's communities.

The suit, filed in the San Francisco County Superior Court, says that the company has even recently perpetuated the myth that "advanced recycling" could reverse the plastic waste and pollution crisis.

"Plastics are everywhere, from the deepest parts of our oceans, the highest peaks on earth, and even in our bodies, causing irreversible damage—in ways known and unknown—to our environment and potentially our health," Bonta wrote in a statement. "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."

Exxon argued in response that California is the one responsible for failing to fix its recycling system.

"They failed to act, and now they seek to blame others. Instead of suing us, they could have worked with us to fix the problem and keep plastic out of landfills," a spokesperson told CNN.

The company is the largest producer of polymers — substances that are used to make single-use plastic such as plastic bags that end up in landfills. ExxonMobil has promoted such plastics as recyclable. However, a vast majority of plastic products are not recyclable, according to the state.

"This caused consumers to purchase and use more single-use plastic than they otherwise would have," the statement continued.

Single-use plastic products, such as shopping bags, straws, plasticware and other items, makes up most of the plastic waste that ends up in the environment. These plastics do not biodegrade. They break down into microplastics, which pollute drinking water, food and breathable air. Such particles have been found in lungs, blood and breast milk.

In 2022, Bonta began investigating the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries to determine their role in perpetuating how plastics pollute California's environment and natural resources.

Subpoenas from that investigation revealed previously unseen documents that prompted the state to file its lawsuit on Monday.

A copy of the complaint can be found here.