California Attorney General Rob Bonta sues ExxonMobil and says it lied about plastics recycling [Video]

SAN FRANCISCO — California sued ExxonMobil Monday, alleging it deceived the public for half a century by promising that recycling would address the global plastic pollution crisis.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said that even with recycling programs, less than 5% of plastic is recycled into another plastic product in the U.S. even though the items are labeled as “recyclable.” As a result, landfills and oceans are filled with plastic waste.

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ExxonMobil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bonta, a Democrat, said a coalition of non-profit environmental organizations has filed a similar lawsuit against the oil giant, which is one of the world’s largest producers of plastics. The state’s lawsuit is a separate action. Both suits allege ExxonMobil misled the public through statements and slick marketing campaigns.

Bonta’s office said in a statement that the attorney …