California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $3.35 million settlement with three major plastic bag manufacturers—Novolex Holdings, LLC, Inteplast Group Corporation, and Mettler Packaging LLC—over allegations that they violated several state laws by marketing and selling non-recyclable plastic bags in California.
This settlement comes after earlier agreements reached in October 2025 with four other producers: Revolution Sustainable Solutions (CA), LLC; Metro Poly Corp.; PreZero US Packaging, LLC; and Advance Polybag, Inc. The total penalties and attorneys’ fees paid by all seven companies now exceed $5.1 million. Beginning January 1, 2026, a new law will require retailers to provide only recycled paper bags or allow customers to bring their own reusable bags at checkout counters.
Attorney General Bonta said, “Plastic bag manufacturers have generated enormous amounts of plastic waste, which pollute California’s environment and harm our communities. At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to tackling the global plastic pollution crisis and the corporations behind it. Going forward, we will monitor compliance with SB 1053, to ensure that the law’s goals of reducing plastic bag waste are met.”
Single-use plastics like plastic bags contribute significantly to environmental pollution in California. These materials block waterways and damage ecosystems. They do not biodegrade but break down into microplastics that have been found in water supplies, food sources, air samples, and even inside human bodies.
The companies involved supplied billions of plastic bags used by grocery retailers statewide while certifying these products as recyclable under SB 270 requirements. However, investigations revealed that these claims were misleading because most facilities in California do not accept or recycle such bags.
The California Attorney General’s office is responsible for enforcing state laws including those related to unfair competition and false advertising as well as environmental regulations (https://oag.ca.gov/). In November 2022, Bonta initiated an investigation into recyclability claims made by these producers by issuing subpoenas for evidence supporting their statements.
Producers could not provide documentation on recycling rates at their own facilities nor identify specific recycling centers processing their bags within the state. Additionally, a survey showed that only two out of sixty-nine surveyed facilities claimed to accept plastic bags but could not confirm if they were actually recycled.
Under today’s settlements Novolex will pay $1.65 million; Inteplast will pay $1 million; Mettler will pay $700,000. Earlier settlements required four other companies to cease selling plastic bags in advance of new regulations taking effect in January 2026.
Rob Bonta leads the Attorney General’s office as part of California’s executive branch (https://oag.ca.gov/), which oversees law enforcement efforts across the state while advancing consumer protection initiatives and promoting environmental justice (https://oag.ca.gov/).