Image: Brian Yurasits via Unsplash
Rob Bonta, the Attorney General of California, announced that the state is filing a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, accusing the company of environmental damage and misleading the public about recycling practices, reported Scientific American.
ExxonMobil, one of the United States’ largest oil and gas companies, is a major producer of polymers used in plastic bottles, cups, and packaging. The company views the manufacturing of plastic components as essential to its business model. According to the lawsuit filed by California Attorney General, 80% of ExxonMobil’s growth is projected to come from single-use plastics.
The composition of most plastics makes them difficult to recycle because of the use of more than 16,000 chemicals to impart colour and elasticity, according to the PlastChem report. Only a small fraction of plastic suitable for recycling goes through the shredding process. Unlike paper, recycled plastic is most often used to create lumber or clothing, which is not recyclable or degradable.
California Attorney General Bonta finds Exxon’s actions ‘illegal’, pointing to the company’s deception in the context of plastic recycling. He cites its 1994 statement that the company is “committed to activities but not results.”
ExxonMobil and other companies are utilizing a method known as “advanced recycling,” which involves converting plastic waste into fuel or new plastic products by applying high temperatures or using toxic chemicals. Despite being promoted as a solution, this approach has consistently been unsuccessful, much like traditional mechanical recycling methods, according to the report.
This lawsuit establishes a precedent that could prompt other state attorneys general to take similar action.
