Connecticut AG Sued Reynolds Consumer Products over False Recycling Claims

JUNE 14, 2022

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong sued Reynolds Consumer Products, the manufacturer of Hefty products, over its “Recycling Bags”—trash bags that the company marketed as “recyclable” despite, the complaint alleged, knowing that they could not be recycled at any facility in the state, possibly the country. The AG explained that this false advertising was especially harmful considering that the use of these “recycling” bags both prevented any of the actually-recyclable items within them from being recycled, and also jammed up equipment at recycling facilities, slowing operations. The AG urged the Court to issue an injunction and to order the company to pay civil fines, forfeit all profit from this product, and fund a campaign to inform consumers not to recycle these bags. This issue was brought to the attention of the AG’s office by consumer complaints about the product.