Clark Mindock
(Reuters) – Two chemical and plastics industry groups filed a lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Friday, seeking to block his attempt to force them to turn over documents as part of an ongoing investigation into the plastic waste crisis.
The American Chemistry Council and the Plastics Industry Association filed suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., arguing that California’s top Democratic lawyer’s demands, among other things, limited their constitutional right to free speech.
The groups said they have already provided some documents on issues such as public fact sheets and public comments on “advanced recycling” technology, which uses a process called pyrolysis to turn hard-to-recycle plastics into fuel.
They withheld internal documents that they say contain sensitive industry data and communications related to issues of public policy and propaganda.
They said Bonta abused his powers by demanding additional documents and are seeking an order barring him from taking further investigative action against them.
Bonta’s office said in an emailed response that it was reviewing the documents and that the attorney general “remains fully committed to holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for its decades-long campaign of deception regarding the plastics crisis.”
American Chemistry Council attorney Allison Starmann said in a statement that Bonta “may disagree with ACC’s policy views, including our recommended policies to create a more sustainable plastic future, but the U.S. and California constitutions protect free speech and political activism and prohibit government officials from retaliating.” measures”. against the exercise of these rights.”
Plastics Industry Association CEO Matt Seaholm said in a statement that the industry is investing billions of dollars in “innovative technologies” to increase recycling rates and remains committed to working with policymakers to prevent plastics from ending up in the environment.
California launched an investigation into the role of the oil and petrochemical industries in creating and worsening the global plastic waste crisis in April 2022. Bonta said last month that his office would decide whether to sue Exxon (NYSE:), a key target in the investigation, by the summer.
California has taken similar legal action on climate change, focusing on what the fossil fuel industry has known about the problem for decades and how it misled the public about its role.
More than 90% of plastic waste worldwide ends up in landfills or incineration, according to a landmark study published in the journal Science Advances. The U.S. recycling rate has never exceeded 9%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
A Reuters investigation found that cutting-edge recycling projects around the world were facing numerous delays and setbacks, even as companies touted their success.