Los Angeles County sues PepsiCo, Coca-Cola over role in plastic pollution 'crisis'

Los Angeles County announced a lawsuit against Coca-Cola and PepsiCo this week, arguing the soda giants misled the public on the recyclability of the plastics used for their products.

In the Wednesday complaint, the county alleged that the companies promoted their bottles as recyclable but knew most of them would end up in landfills and that they cannot be meaningfully recycled without environmental harms.

It specifically points to what it says are false claims by Pepsi that it has created a “circular economy” for the plastics it uses as well as pledges by both companies to eliminate the use of virgin plastic, or newly manufactured material that has not been previously processed.

Plastic comprises the biggest source of terrestrial litter in the state of California, accounting for seven of the 10 most common products left on beaches, according to the lawsuit. In 2021, 600 billion plastic water bottles were manufactured, which created 25 million tons of waste, most of which was landfilled.

“Los Angeles County is committed to reducing the use of plastic and protecting the environment,” Los Angeles County Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath said in a statement. “Coke and Pepsi need to stop the deception and take responsibility for the plastic pollution problems your products are causing. Los Angeles County will continue to address the serious environmental impacts caused by companies engaging in misleading and unfair business practices.”

The organization Break Free From Plastic ranks the two companies as among the biggest worldwide plastic polluters, with Coca-Cola generating 3.2 million metric tons of plastic a year and PepsiCo 2.5 million metric tons.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of February research suggesting plastics cannot be meaningfully recycled in the sense of being made into fully new products and that the concept of “recyclable plastics” is largely a successful public relations campaign by the plastics industry.

That research further found that even when collected for recycling, many cities and municipalities dispose of most of the plastics collected by burning or landfill.

The Hill has reached out to PepsiCo and Coca-Cola for comment.

In a statement to The Hill, William Dermody, vice president of media and public affairs at the American Beverage Association, which counts both companies as members, called the allegation that their packaging is not recycled "simply not true."

"Driven by the California Redemption Value bottle return and investments by America’s beverage companies, California has one of the highest bottle recycling rates in the country — 71% in 2023. Our bottles are designed to be recycled and remade and can include up to 100% recycled plastic," Dermody said. "America’s beverage companies are proud of our leadership in California, and across the country, and will continue our partnership with the Golden State to get every bottle back.”

Updated: 1:18 p.m.