California Vs. ExxonMobil: Legal War Erupts Over ‘Recycling Lies’ And Plastic Pollution

California has launched a major legal battle against ExxonMobil, accusing the oil giant of lying to the public about plastic recycling for decades. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, claims the company deliberately misled consumers about how much plastic can actually be recycled.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s complaint alleges ExxonMobil violated multiple state laws, including false advertising and environmental marketing regulations. The case centers on ExxonMobil’s promotion of recycling as an effective solution to plastic waste, despite knowing most plastics end up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment.

California’s lawsuit exposes ExxonMobil’s recycling deception while most plastics quietly fill landfills, incinerators, and our environment.

The legal action highlights stark statistics about recycling rates. While ExxonMobil pushed recycling in marketing campaigns, global plastic recycling rates hover around 9%. In the United States, rates are even lower at just 5-6%. This gap between marketing claims and reality forms the core of California‘s case.

ExxonMobil is the largest producer of single-use plastic polymers used in California and globally. The lawsuit points out that 99% of all plastics come from fossil fuels, with ExxonMobil serving as a leading supplier in this chain. Critics argue that, similar to carbon credits in Australia, this represents companies using offset mechanisms to avoid making meaningful operational changes to reduce environmental harm.

The complaint also challenges ExxonMobil’s claims about “advanced recycling” technologies. California alleges the company overstated environmental benefits and based its marketing on selective data and problematic assumptions. These technologies remain largely unproven at scale despite being presented as solutions.

California seeks multiple remedies, including court orders to stop deceptive practices, civil penalties, and funding for environmental cleanup. The state is also asking courts to force ExxonMobil to cease making claims about “advanced recycling” until they can be substantiated.

ExxonMobil has denied responsibility for plastic pollution. The company argues consumer purchasing decisions result from state policies and individual needs, not just their advertising.

This case marks the first time a plastic producer, rather than just consumer brands, has been targeted for recycling-related claims in California. ExxonMobil attempted to move the case to federal court, but the judge rejected their jurisdictional claims and remanded the case to state court. Public polling shows that 70% of American voters support legal action against industries for misleading recycling claims, indicating broad national backing for California’s lawsuit.