California has reached a settlement with four plastic bag producers, all accused of violating a state law stipulating that any plastic bags sold in California be comprised of recyclable materials.
The settlement was announced on Friday by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and four plastic bag companies: Revolution Sustainable Solutions, Metro Poly Corp., PreZero US Packaging LLC, and Advance Polgybag, Inc. All four companies had been under investigation for alleged violations of Senate Bill 270, the Environmental Marketing Claims Act, the False Advertising Lawe, and the Unfair Competition Law.
All of the allegations stemmed from or related to the continued use of non-recyclable plastic bags. The investigation, which began in 2022, targeted a half-dozen manufacturers whose products did not appear to meet the standards specified by California Senate Bill 270.
“Most Californians are under the impression that plastic bags are recyclable,” Bonta said in 2022. “It’s a logical conclusion: California has banned single-use plastics, and we see the ‘chasing arrows’ symbol or 100% recyclable printed on most every bag we get from the grocery store. But astonishingly, there’s a good chance that most, if not all, these bags are not actually recyclable in California. As Attorney General, I’m committed to tackling the global plastic pollution crisis and the corporations behind it. I demand that manufacturers provide evidence to back up their claims about the recyclability of our grocery bags.”
Though three of the six companies have agreed to pay fines and other damages, Bonta’s office will formally litigate claims against the remaining producers: Novolex Holdings LLC, Inteplast Group Corp., and Mettler Packaging LLC.
“At the California Department of Justice, we have been unwavering in our commitment to exposing illegal actions at the root of the plastic pollution crisis — not just the environmental harm, but corporate legal violations driving it,” Bonta said in a statement.
“Through our investigation, we are bringing to light how powerful companies have broken the law and prioritized profits over our environment. The consequences of these violations are severe: Billions of plastic carryout bags end up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment instead of being recycled as the bags proclaim.,” he said. “Our legal actions today make it clear: No corporation is above the law.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Metro Poly, PreZero, and Advance Polybag, Inc., will pay a combined total of $1,753,000, including $1,115,750 in civil penalties and about $636,250 in attorneys’ fees and other legal costs.
Sources
Attorney General Bonta Demands Manufacturers of Plastic Bags Substantiate Recyclability Claims
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