Attorney General Alleges Decades of Misinformation
California has filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, accusing the oil giant of deceiving the public for over 50 years by claiming that the plastics it produced would be recycled. According to the lawsuit, less than 5% of plastics in the U.S. are actually recycled into new plastic products, despite being labeled as “recyclable.”
State Attorney General Rob Bonta said this misinformation has contributed to a global plastic pollution crisis. “They’ve made us feel less guilty about our waste by falsely promising it would be recycled,” Bonta stated during a virtual news conference, where he was joined by environmental groups.
The Allegations: A Global Plastic Pollution Crisis
The lawsuit argues that ExxonMobil’s misleading claims led consumers to believe that plastic items, such as water bottles, were being recycled when they were, in fact, ending up in landfills and oceans. The complaint accuses the company of violations under California’s public nuisance and unfair competition laws.
“The end goal is to drive people to buy more plastic and boost ExxonMobil’s profits,” Bonta claimed, calling the company’s tactics a “lie” designed to mislead consumers.
ExxonMobil Responds, Blaming California’s Recycling System
ExxonMobil has rejected the allegations, blaming California’s ineffective recycling system for the problem. “For decades, California officials have known their recycling system isn’t effective. Instead of suing us, they could have worked with us to fix the problem,” said Lauren Kight, a spokesperson for ExxonMobil.
The lawsuit is part of a broader movement holding oil and gas companies accountable for environmental issues. Over the past few years, several U.S. municipalities and states have sued oil companies for their role in climate change.
Investigation Reveals Hidden Documents and Misinformation
The legal action stems from an investigation launched by Bonta’s office in April 2022, which uncovered previously hidden documents. The lawsuit claims that ExxonMobil was aware of the environmental harm caused by plastics but continued to promote recycling as a solution, ramping up production while misleading the public.
According to the state’s complaint, ExxonMobil’s promotion of “advanced recycling” or “chemical recycling” was another deceptive tactic. The company touted this process as a breakthrough in turning old plastics into new products, but in reality, only 8% of materials were successfully recycled.
