Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit against Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, accusing both of contributing to severe plastic pollution and misleading the public about the recyclability of their products. It claims that both companies have portrayed plastic recycling as a solution to plastic waste whereas, in reality, only a small portion of their plastic is recycled, and most recycling results in downcycled, non-recyclable products. LA County seeks civil penalties, an injunction to stop deceptive marketing, and restitution for consumers. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola cite statements from William Dermody, vice president of media and public affairs for the American Beverage Association, who argues that the companies’ bottles are recycled at a rate of 70 percent and are designed to be recycled into bottles containing recycled plastics.
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