California takes on Big Plastic for selling nonrecyclable shopping bags

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — The California attorney general filed a lawsuit against major single-use plastic bag manufacturers on Friday, after a statewide investigation found the sale of non-recyclable plastic bags violated several laws.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court accusing plastic bag makers Novolex Holdings, Inteplast Group and Mettler Packaging of violating Senate Bill 270, California’s 2016 ban on non-reusable plastic bags. The suit also alleges unfair competition, false advertising and environmental claims, seeking penalties, disgorgement and injunctive relief.

Bonta’s office began investigating non-recyclable bag sales in November 2022. The probe concluded Friday with a settlement involving four additional producers — Revolution Sustainable Solutions, Metro Poly, PreZero U.S. Packaging and Advance Polybag. With court approval, the settlements will have companies stop selling plastic bags in California and collectively pay more than $1.7 million in penalties and legal fees.

“Through our investigation, we are bringing to light how powerful companies have broken the law and prioritized profits over our environment,” said Bonta in a press statement. “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.”

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-takes-on-big-plastic-for-selling-nonrecyclable-shopping-bags/