Summarised by Centrist
California has filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, accusing the company of lying about plastic recycling for decades. The state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, claims Exxon has been selling more than oil—they’ve been selling the myth of recycling.
Bonta accuses the company of “recycling its lies” through deceptive marketing like the “chasing arrows” symbol. As Bonta put it, “It doesn’t matter what bin you put it in… it’s going to end up in the environment, the incinerator, or the landfill.”
Exxon Mobil fired back, saying California knew their recycling system was broken for decades but did nothing. According to Exxon, the real problem isn’t their business but the state’s failure to act.
The multi-billion dollar lawsuit is part of a broader movement against corporate deception about recycling and is being celebrated by environmental groups like The Sierra Club as a breakthrough case. Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, called it “the most important legal action to date in the global fight against plastic pollution.”
Bonta hopes this case will finally crack the illusion that recycling is the magic solution to plastic waste.
Editor’s note: Many government-sponsored “green” projects often fail to achieve their stated goals. If this case sets a precedent, it could potentially be used to challenge other government greenwashing efforts.
