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Plastic Bag "Recyclable" Scam Faces Reckoning in California: 3 Companies Sued, 4 Settle for $1.7 Million

New Observations on Waste Plastics 2025-10-20 09:42:07

On October 17, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against three plastic bag manufacturers. The companies labeled their products as "recyclable," even though the state's recycling system is effectively unable to handle plastic bags, constituting false advertising. Meanwhile, four other companies reached settlements over similar allegations, as such misleading marketing directly exacerbates plastic pollution.

Image: California Attorney General Rob Bonta

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California sues 3 and settles with 4 plastic bag manufacturers.

On the 17th, Bonta officially filed a lawsuit against Novolex Holdings LLC (one of the world's largest food packaging manufacturers), Inteplast Group Corp, and Mettler Packaging LLC. These companies are accused of violating the Environmental Marketing Claims Act, the False Advertising Law, and the Unfair Competition Law by affixing "chasing arrows" symbols and other misleading recyclability claims on their bags. The prosecution points out that these companies failed to provide any evidence that the plastic bags sold in California are actually being recycled.

At the same time, California has reached a settlement with four companies: Revolution, Metro Poly, PreZero, and API. According to the agreement, these four companies will stop selling plastic bags in California and will pay a total of over $1.7 million, which includes $1.1 million in fines and $636,000 in attorney and litigation fees.

Bonta stated at the press conference: "These companies have long misled the public into believing that these plastic bags can be recycled. However, the truth is that even if consumers try to dispose of them in recycling bins, these bags are hardly ever truly recycled in California. Instead, they end up in landfills, incinerators, or even enter the natural environment, causing severe pollution."

The lawsuit will be filed based on the State Consumer Protection Act and SB 270 (the single-use plastic bag ban). The prosecution requests the court to order the defendant to return unjust gains and impose additional fines, while also requiring merchants to fully switch to paper bags or truly reusable eco-friendly bags.

This action is also part of California's long-term investigation into the petrochemical and fossil fuel industries. Prosecutors pointed out that these industries have misled the public through propaganda for many years, creating the illusion that "recycling can solve plastic pollution," while in reality allowing the pollution to continue to expand.

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The actual recycling rate of plastic waste in the United States is only 5%-6%.

This case originated from California's 2014 ban on single-use plastic bags, the first of its kind in the nation. Since then, most retailers have opted to provide customers with thicker, "reusable" plastic bags that bear recycling symbols. These bags are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and are theoretically recyclable. However, an investigation by the Bonta office over several years found that among 69 recycling facilities across California, only 2 expressed a willingness to accept these bags, and it was uncertain whether they were actually recycled.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the United States generates about 48 million tons of plastic waste each year, but the actual recycling rate is only 5% to 6%, with the vast majority still being incinerated or landfilled.

It is worth noting that California Governor Newsom has previously signed SB 1053, which announces that starting January 1, 2026, retailers, supermarkets, and pharmacies across the state will not be allowed to provide any plastic shopping bags at checkout, even those previously labeled as reusable thick plastic bags will be banned. At that time, merchants will only be able to offer "recyclable paper bags" with a charge of at least 10 cents each.

Bonta emphasized, "We must confront the cost that these plastic bags impose on the environment and climate. They are choking our rivers and oceans, and this is a reality that can no longer be ignored."

Environmental groups welcomed this, believing that the case will set a precedent for other states across the U.S. and further encourage companies to stop profiting from "greenwashing" marketing.

This matter reveals a global industry ailment: "recyclable" is a promise, but if the product itself and the backend recycling system do not match, this promise is just empty talk. It adopts a "post-fact accountability" governance approach, using legal means to punish "greenwashing" behaviors and clearing obstacles for genuine environmentally-friendly design.

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Plastic Bag "Recyclable" Scam Faces Reckoning in California: 3 Companies Sued, 4 Settle for $1.7 Million

California sues 3 and settles with 4 plastic bag manufacturers.

The actual recycling rate of plastic waste in the United States is only 5%-6%.

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