Oliver Franklin-Wallis, a journalist focused on environmental issues, and Rob Bonta, the California Attorney General leading a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, dive into the complexities of plastic recycling. They discuss how Exxon has misled the public regarding the sustainability of single-use plastics. The conversation explores why recycling is often ineffective, the industry's deceptive marketing tactics, and the heavier burden of plastic waste on society. Will this lawsuit change the narrative on corporate responsibility in plastic pollution?
California's lawsuit against ExxonMobil reveals that only 5% of plastic waste is recycled, exposing the long-standing deception about recycling's sustainability.
The plastic industry's manipulation of recycling messaging and misleading symbols exemplifies a larger strategy to prioritize profit over environmental health and integrity.
Deep dives
The Myth of Plastic Recycling
Plastic recycling has transitioned from a hopeful initiative to a widely regarded deception. California's lawsuit against ExxonMobil highlights the assertion that only 5% of U.S. plastic waste is recycled, with the remaining 95% ending up in landfills, oceans, and landscapes. The lawsuit points to ExxonMobil's campaign over decades to mislead the public about the sustainability of plastic recycling, claiming that it is not genuinely feasible. This revelation leads to a frustrating realization for many consumers who believed their recycling efforts were making a difference.
Corporate Deception and Manipulation
The plastic industry orchestrated a media campaign to support recycling, including a significant advertisement in Time magazine in 1989 that pushed the sustainability narrative. Misleading symbols, such as the chasing arrows, were utilized to suggest that all plastic products could be recycled, even when many could not be. This manipulation was compounded by the introduction of terms like 'advanced recycling,' which fails to produce new plastic products and often results in the plastic being converted into fuel instead. The California Attorney General asserts that this long-standing deception is not only misleading but part of a larger effort to maintain profits at the expense of environmental integrity.
Public Health and Environmental Concerns
The repercussions of the plastic recycling myth extend beyond environmental degradation to pose serious health risks to the public. Plastics break down into microplastics that are now ubiquitous in the human body, even found in placentas, raising alarming health concerns. The lawsuit seeks to address these issues, with California taxpayers bearing the financial burden of cleaning up plastic waste, estimated at a billion dollars annually. The claim includes demands for ExxonMobil to contribute to an abatement fund and support educational campaigns to inform the public.
A Call for Accountability and Systemic Change
California's lawsuit is groundbreaking, representing the first instance of a public entity legally challenging a petrochemical company over the recycling deception. The case connects to broader public health initiatives, similar to past lawsuits against industries like tobacco. As this legal battle unfolds, it may inspire other jurisdictions to take action against the plastic industry, holding them accountable for long-term environmental damage. Ultimately, both governmental action and consumer responsibility are crucial in reducing reliance on single-use plastics and improving recycling practices.
The California Attorney General sued Exxon Mobil this week for misleading the public on the sustainability of single use plastics. How did plastics recycling go from an exciting promise to a scam perpetuated by Big Oil? Max and Erin tear into Exxon’s decades-long campaign to unwrap the truth—with help from journalist Oliver Franklin-Wallis and the AG himself, Rob Bonta. Why is it so hard to recycle plastic? Who actually processes our waste? Will the lawsuit work? Listen to this week’s How We Got Here to find out.
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