By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – California will conclude a two-year investigation into Exxon and the fossil fuel industry’s role in global plastic pollution by summer and decide whether to file suit against the oil giant, its attorney general told Reuters this Monday.
The state launched its investigation into the role of the oil and petrochemical industry in creating and exacerbating the global plastic waste crisis in April 2022 and subpoenaed Exxon to produce documents.
The plastics investigation mirrored similar actions it took on climate change, which focused on what the industry knew about the problem for decades and how it misled the public about its role.
“We will soon be ready to reach a decision based on all of our investigations over the next few weeks,” Attorney General Rob Bonta told Reuters. “The lies and deceptions that Exxon used to cover up the truth about the non-recyclability of plastic are well documented.”
Exxon said it does not comment on ongoing investigations. In 2022, the company called the state’s allegations “meritless” and said it was focused on solutions to improve waste management.
Bonta said he planned to attend the start of negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution, which begin in Ottawa on Tuesday, but had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts.
“In an ideal world, we could have made an announcement in Ottawa as part of a discussion about where we go from here, but that didn’t work out,” he said.
The California investigation focused on what it called a “half-century campaign of deception” by fossil fuel companies that perpetuate “myths surrounding recycling.”
Bonta said he also sought information about Exxon’s latest promotion of its “advanced recycling” technology, which uses a process called pyrolysis to turn difficult-to-recycle plastic into fuel, in response to the plastic waste crisis. He said the technology’s slow progress was a sign of Exxon’s “continuing deception.”
The company currently has around a dozen advanced recycling projects. The goal is to have the capacity to process 1 billion pounds of plastic waste by the end of 2026.
Exxon signed an agreement in 2021 to collaborate with Plastic Energy on advanced recycling, in which Exxon agreed to create high-quality plastic polymers at its facilities in France. Last week, Exxon announced it would close that facility.
A Reuters investigation found that advanced recycling projects around the world have been plagued by numerous delays and failures, even as companies touted their success.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Sonali Paul)
