California Attorney General Rob Bonta Announced a lawsuit against three plastic bag manufacturers For claiming that their bags are recyclable, when in fact they are not, This violates state law.
The companies named in the lawsuit, Novolex Holdings LLC, Inteplast Group Corp. and Mettler Packaging LLC, were unable to provide proof that the plastic bags they sold in California were recycled, according to the attorney general’s office.
The lawsuit asks the court to enforce the state’s consumer protection laws and SB 270, the state’s single-use plastic bag ban, and force the companies to pay back the profits they made from bag sales, as well as additional penalties.
Likewise, 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 stop plastic bag sales in California and pay more than $1.75 million collectively.
“Through our investigation, we are highlighting the extent to which powerful corporations are breaking the law and prioritizing profits over our environment,” Bonta said in a statement. “The consequences of these violations are dire: billions of plastic bags are ending up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment instead of being recycled as the bags advertise.” Our legal actions today make clear: No company is above the law.”
Bonta also stressed that billions of plastic bags end up in landfills, incinerators and the environment when they are not recycled.
Novolex Holdings LLC, Inteplast Group Corp. and Mettler Packaging did not immediately respond to KTLA’s request for comment.