Bonta says plastic bags aren't recyclable, sues companies

California is suing three plastic bag manufacturers that officials say are violating state law by providing bags billed as recyclable when they are in fact not, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced last week.

- BY HANNAH FRY

ERIC RISBERG Associated Press

CALIFORNIA is suing three plastic bag manufacturers, claiming the companies are violating state law.

The companies named in the lawsuit, Novolex Holdings LLC—one of the largest global food, beverage, and specialty packaging companies — Inteplast Group Corp. and Mettler Packaging LLC, were not able to produce any evidence the plastic bags they sold to California stores were recycled, according to the attorney general's office.

At a news conference Oct. 17, Bonta also announced a settlement with four plastic bag producers — Revolution, Metro Poly, PreZero and API — that have agreed to halt plastic bag sales in the state and collectively pay more than $1.7 million for allegedly selling plastic bags that could not be recycled. The settlement amount includes $1.1 million in civil penalties and more than $636,000 in attorneys fees and costs.