California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit Friday against three plastic bag manufacturers for allegedly claiming their bags are recyclable when, in fact, they are not, thereby violating a state law.
The companies named in the suit, Novolex Holdings LLC, Inteplast Group Corp., and Mettler Packaging LLC, were unable to produce evidence that the plastic bags they sold in California were recyclable, according to the attorney general’s office.
The lawsuit asks the court to enforce state consumer protection laws and SB 270, the state’s single-use plastic bag ban, and force the companies to pay back the profits made from their bag sales, plus additional penalties.
Similarly, Bonta also announced a settlement with four other plastic bag producers — Revolution, Metro Poly, PreZero, and API — who agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the same laws. As part of the settlement, the companies agreed to halt plastic bag sales in California and collectively pay more than $1.75 million.
Through our investigation, we are bringing to light how powerful companies have broken the law and prioritized profits over our environment,” Bonta said in a statement. “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. Our legal actions today make it clear: No corporation is above the law.”
Bonta also highlighted that billions of plastic carryout bags end up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment when they aren’t recycled.
Novolex Holdings LLC, Inteplast Group Corp., and Mettler Packaging didn’t immediately respond to KTLA’s request for comment.
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