Latest news with #Recycling
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Exxon plastic waste suit faces first major hurdle
July 23 (Reuters) - Plastic waste is ubiquitous – from empty water bottles to grocery bags, the detritus litters beaches, parks and roadways. The question for a federal judge in San Francisco now is whether Exxon Mobil can be held liable for such pollution, or if a novel suit claiming the company has created a public and private nuisance should be dismissed. A coalition of four environmental groups last year sued Exxon, opens new tab, a leading producer of polymers used to make single-use plastics, alleging the company wrongly led consumers in California to believe that plastic was easily and safely disposed of, when in reality, less than 5% of it is recycled in the United States. A spokesperson for Exxon, which has denied wrongdoing, did not respond to requests for comment, and the company's outside counsel from O'Melveny & Myers declined comment for this column. Exxon in court papers, opens new tab said the plaintiffs' theory that consumers purchased more plastic based on statements by Exxon was 'to put it mildly, a real stretch.' During an hour-long oral argument last week over Exxon's motion to dismiss, Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg pushed lawyers on both sides to lay out the parameters of nuisance law, while also hinting he might allow the claim to move forward – but more on that later. Nuisance, a centuries-old legal doctrine with its roots in English common law, applies when a defendant's conduct interferes with a public or private right to the enjoyment of life or property. Classic examples include blocking a public road or a factory that emits noxious odors. In recent years, nuisance claims have also been successfully invoked by state and local governments in litigation against opioid makers for their role in the epidemic of addiction and overdose deaths, netting close to $50 billion in payouts. Lead paint manufacturers also settled nuisance claims in California in 2019, agreeing to pay $305 million without admitting wrongdoing. Unlike personal injury claims, nuisance cases do not seek damages to compensate plaintiffs for an injury. Instead, they seek to make the party responsible for the nuisance pay to abate, or fix, the condition. The defense bar has called public nuisance a "super tort, opens new tab," complaining that such claims offer a way to sidestep the more rigorous requirements to prevail in a product liability lawsuit. Here, the Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Heal the Bay, and San Francisco Baykeeper, which also allege violations of California's unfair competition law, want abatement, injunctive relief, compensatory damages and attorneys' fees, noting in a press release, opens new tab that California taxpayers shell out an estimated $420 million each year to clean up and prevent plastic pollution. Their case was brought in tandem with a similar action by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The AG's higher-profile suit, opens new tab remains bogged down in a fight over venue after Seeborg remanded it to San Francisco Superior Court. Exxon has appealed that decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the dispute remains pending. In the meantime, the suit by the environmental groups has proceeded in federal court, where Seeborg must now decide if it can survive the motion to dismiss. 'What is the nuisance?' he asked plaintiffs lawyer Tyson Redenbarger, a partner at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy. 'Is it that these items are plastic (and) plastics cause pollution? Or is it that people acquire it thinking it's more recyclable than it is?' 'It's a very broad claim,' Seeborg added. 'My problem is, is it so broad that I can't really get my hands around?' Redenbarger countered that the nuisance standard itself is 'quite broad,' arguing that Exxon's 'years-long campaign to tell the public that plastic can be safely disposed of' led consumers to buy more of it, and that unrecycled plastic waste winds up in waterways or leaks chemicals into landfills. Redenbarger and spokespeople for the environmental coalition did not respond to requests for comment. Last year, New York Attorney General Letitia James came up short in a similar suit accusing PepsiCo of polluting the environment with single-use plastic packaging. In dismissing the case, a New York state court judge ruled it would run "contrary to every norm of established jurisprudence" to punish PepsiCo, because it was people, not the company, who ignored laws prohibiting littering. But Seeborg, who was appointed to the bench in 2009 by President Barack Obama, offered some indication he might not be so quick to toss the environmental groups' case – at least not at this stage of the litigation. When Exxon lawyer Dawn Sestito, a partner at O'Melveny, argued that unlike in the lead paint case — where companies allegedly touted the paint for interior use while knowing it was toxic — it's hard here "to imagine that talking about plastics as recyclable could be considered a promotion for hazardous use,' she said. Moreover, government entities also convey the message that plastic is recyclable, she said. Seeborg responded that the plaintiffs' "accusation is that you knew it wasn't, and you're in the business of polymer production,' he said. 'You may quite possibly prevail in terms of undermining the nuisance claim, but we're at the posture right now of just whether or not it can even go forward.' He added, 'This case isn't about whether going into the marketplace and saying 'Let's all recycle' is actionable. They're claiming something very different.' A few minutes later, when Sestito took aim at what she flagged as a basic disconnect in the plaintiffs' case – how is it, she said, that stating 'a product or plastics could be recyclable results in more plastic ending up in oceans or beaches or becoming pollution?' – Seeborg again shut her down. 'I don't want to beat the same drum over and over again, but is that something that would need to be explained at this stage of the litigation?' he said. 'It ultimately may need to be explained, but the question really is, have they articulated a legal theory that can advance, if they proved everything.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Free school uniform event at Peterborough shopping centre
Parents and pupils will be able to get free school essentials and clothing to help families save money in time for the new school Shopping Centre in Peterborough will hold the Free School Uniform Event on 1 August. it will include primary and secondary school clothes which can be exchanged on the day near the centre's Superdry store. "Hopefully this can be an event that helps cut down on their costs in time for September, while also benefitting the environment at the same time," said Katy Cole, Labour and cabinet member for children's services at Peterborough City Council. She added: "Working in education and being a parent myself I am well aware of the cost of uniforms and how quickly youngsters grow out of them."The council said the event would include recycling games, upcycling and crafts between 11:00 BST and 16:00. It was organised by the city council's recycling education team and Peterborough Youth Council, with support from Peterborough Family Daboh, the city's Youth MP, said: "The event is championing reusing school uniform and also helping to alleviate the stress for families during the back-to-school period."It's also about signposting the environmental effects and economic benefits of events such as these, and hopefully we can do more in the future."The National Literacy Trust is set to attend the event alongside the Goal2Grow initiative, where fans can exchange pre-loved football shirts. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Green bin collections to resume after Bedfordshire waste site fire
Green waste bin collections that were suspended for nearly two weeks after a large fire at a waste site will begin again on 21 July. The fire at Elstow Waste Transfer Station near Bedford broke out at about 21:00 BST on Friday, 4 July and was finally put out on Thursday, 11 July. The fire involved a large quantity of non-hazardous mixed recyclable household waste. The building was demolished to enable firefighters safe access to extinguish the flames, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed. Bedford Borough Council confirmed collections will start again from Monday and thanked residents for their "kind words and patience whilst we made sure your recycling service was not impacted by the fire". Central Bedfordshire Council said the fire caused some delays to collections, but crews had since caught up. It confirmed it was still not operating its bulky waste collections and the Thorn Turn Trade Household Waste Recycling Centre would remain closed until the end of the week. The fire service said a number of contractors would remain on site so the deconstruction of the building could continue. "This may result in dust being seen from the site," it said. At the height of the blaze areas including Wixams, Shortstown, Hayes and Houghton Conquest were affected by the smoke. People were told to keep their windows and doors closed, but that no longer applied. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Plastic-free world within reach
This year's World Environment Day (5 June) spotlighted the theme 'Ending Plastic Pollution'. In China, a group of young entrepreneurs is responding to that call — transforming discarded materials such as plastic bottles, fishing nets, and bicycle tires into fashionable, functional products, paving the way for a plastic-free future. When old bicycle tyres are thrown away, Gao Chao from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, sees potential. As the founder of the fashion brand UOOSEE, she has partnered with nearly 2,000 bike shops nationwide, recycling over 3,000 tyres each month. These mud-covered tyres are cleaned, cut, and sewn — without any chemical processing — into rugged, waterproof backpacks that appeal to young consumers who value both sustainability and style. Meanwhile, HowBottle takes a different approach — turning beverage bottles and fishing nets into recycled plastic, which is then used to make bags, hats, and even eyeglasses. 'Materials themselves aren't inherently guilty,' said founder Lun Jiayu (Supa), from Foshan, Guangdong province. 'If plastic can be recycled or kept within human society rather than ending up in nature, it still has value.' Another alternative comes from bamboo. The brand AbuSolutely, founded in 2011 by Ren Yao from Chengdu, Sichuan province, creates bamboo bicycles that are both lightweight and durable. 'I was inspired by a photo of a bamboo bicycle from a century ago in Britain,' Ren recalled. After years of research and development, AbuSolutely's bamboo bikes have received certification from the EU bicycle industry. 'With the same weight, bamboo fibre can bear three times the load of steel,' Ren said. 'Its resilience and shock absorption make it ideal for bikes.' However, green products still face criticism, with some people perceiving them as overpriced and unattractive due to the so-called 'green premium'. Supa explained that higher prices reflect the cost of sustainable practices, such as strict waste management, and biodegradable packaging. She added that as more companies embrace eco-friendly practices, competition in the market intensifies, providing consumers with more choices. 'This benefits both the industry and consumers,' she said. Supa also emphasised that consumption doesn't have to conflict with environmentalism. Thoughtful, conscious purchasing decisions allow consumers to actively support environmental protection. When discussing these new brands' commitment to sustainability, Gao said: 'Fast fashion bags often use linings with a lifespan of just three years, but we opt for the more expensive ones that last over 10 years. Decades later, our bags can still be used and will have a vintage charm. We want products and fashion to be more than just a passing trend, but rather a game that never ends.' In Gao's view, environmental protection is somewhat counter-intuitive to human nature because it requires people to restrain their desires and embrace a minimalist lifestyle. 'Therefore, sustainable products must first benefit consumers so they can seamlessly integrate into daily life without needing to be intentionally highlighted or mentioned,' she said. Ren stresses the importance of avoiding 'eco-coercion'. 'The public is unlikely to pursue environmental protection just for its own sake. Green products must make commercial sense first,' he said. 'Replacing plastic with bamboo, for example, requires excellence in product design and quality — we need to create items that ordinary customers actually want to buy, not just appeal to eco-conscious buyers.' Supa has noticed a remarkable shift among emerging brands: even if they aren't explicitly labelled as eco-friendly, they incorporate sustainable elements in their materials or manufacturing processes. 'Today's young entrepreneurs naturally possess an eco-friendly mindset. Without environmental awareness, it's almost embarrassing to establish a brand image,' she said. This trend is creating a positive cycle — more brands joining in are helping drive down technological costs, making eco-friendly products more accessible. With a bachelor's degree in biotechnology from Sun Yat-sen University and a master's degree in social entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California, Supa believes in the essential role of business and technology in advancing environmental efforts. She is also exploring more eco-friendly materials. For example, HowBottle has collaborated with the Palace Museum to design a cultural product using bio-based technology: fallen leaves from the Forbidden City are collected and used as a fermentation substrate to grow mycelium, which is then processed into fabric fibres. These products, which blend romantic imagination with cutting-edge technology, enrich the concept of environmental protection and reflect Supa's belief that sustainability should be a joyful pursuit.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IPG Truro Facility Achieves Zero Waste Certification
IPG Truro Facility Achieves Zero Waste Certification SARASOTA, Fla., June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IPG, a global provider of packaging and protective solutions, today announced that its Truro, Nova Scotia facility has been awarded SILVER certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve, and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices, which contribute to positive environmental, health, and economic outcomes. The Truro facility has demonstrated exceptional dedication to best practices in recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. Through its rigorous efforts, the facility has achieved an impressive 95.5% diversion rate, effectively preventing a significant amount of waste from reaching landfills. This achievement includes the successful recycling of materials such as plastics and cardboard. Notably, the Truro facility further exemplifies its commitment to circularity by manufacturing plastic piping using its own recycled plastic. "We are extremely proud of the TRUE Zero Waste certification obtained by our Truro facility," said Jay Bolus, VP of Sustainability at IPG. "This marks an important milestone on our journey to become a zero waste company and is further proof of IPG's commitment to sustainable products and processes.' For more information about IPG and its sustainability initiatives, please visit About IPGHeadquartered in Sarasota, Florida, IPG is a global provider of packaging and protective solutions across a diversified set of geographies and end-markets. The company develops, manufactures, and sells a variety of solutions including paper and film-based pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes, stretch and shrink films, protective packaging, woven and non-woven products, and packaging machinery. For information about IPG, visit About TRUE Certification TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) is a zero waste certification program that helps facilities define, pursue, and achieve their zero waste goals, cutting their carbon footprint, supporting public health, and reducing their operating expenses. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve, and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices. Learn more at FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Jay BolusVP of Sustainability IPGjbolus@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
