Sean Hecht in The Los Angeles Times: State accuses Exxon Mobil of deceiving public, perpetuating ‘myth’ of plastics recycling

The California Attorney General’s office has sent a subpoena to Exxon Mobil Corp., seeking information about the company’s “historic and ongoing efforts” to reduce public awareness of plastic’s harmful effects. “For more than half a century, the plastics industry has engaged in an aggressive campaign to deceive the public, perpetuating a myth that recycling can solve the plastics crisis,” Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said. UCLA’s Sean Hecht, co-executive director of UCLA School of Law’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, comments on the similarities to the ongoing challenges against opioid manufacturers, as well as the recent climate disinformation cases making their way through court.