California Sues Exxon Over Phony Plastic Recycling Claims

SAN FRANCISCO - Today, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuitagainst ExxonMobil for allegedly deceiving the public for decades, deliberately encouraging plastics use and driving the global plastics pollution crisis.

Following is a statement from Daniel Rosenberg,Director of Federal Toxics Policy for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"California's lawsuit shining a light on the deceptions of Exxon and the chemical industry, could not come at a better time. Just last week, two members of Congress introduced a bill promoted by the chemical and plastics industry that would remove federal pollution controls - including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act -- from the incineration and disposal of plastic, including hazardous waste. Rolling back federal health protections sends a signal that burning plastics is a legitimate business, when it's just a public relations ploy by the chemical industry to continue to produce millions of tons of unnecessary and toxic plastic.

"No one except the chemical and plastics industries want to keep filling our world with plastics - not on our beaches, in our parks, not in our bodies as microplastics. Congress and other states should join the effort to hold the industry accountable and protect public health and the planet."

NRDC(Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.organd follow us on Twitter @NRDC.