Why California is suing ExxonMobil for ‘perpetuating the lie’ of plastic recycling

California is going after ExxonMobil over what it calls a "campaign of deception" about plastic recycling.

The Golden State filed suit against the oil giant this week, alleging that it has misled consumers for years by marketing recycling as a way to prevent plastic pollution. Plastic is difficult and relatively costly to recycle, and very little of it ever gets rehashed, but the industry sold recycling as a feasible solution anyway.

That's why California wants to hold ExxonMobil accountable for the role it says the company played in filling landfills and waterways with plastic. Plastics are made with fossil fuels, and California says ExxonMobil is the biggest producer of single-use plastic polymers.

ExxonMobil defended itself in an emailed response to The Verge, writing: "For decades, California officials have known their recycling system isn't effective. They failed to act, and now they seek to blame others. Instead of suing us, they could have worked with us to fix the problem and keep plastic out of landfills."

The Verge spoke with California Attorney General Rob Bonta about plastic recycling and the allegations California makes in the landmark lawsuit.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

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