“Baltimore Takes on Big Beverage Giants in Landmark Plastic Waste Lawsuit”

The city of Baltimore has taken a bold step in the fight against plastic pollution by filing a lawsuit against global beverage giants PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, along with six other companies. The lawsuit, filed last week, accuses the companies of using deceptive business practices and creating a public nuisance by producing single-use plastic products that end up littering streets, contaminating waterways, and causing harm to public health and the environment.

The lawsuit is part of a growing trend of plastics litigation as more cities and states seek accountability for the environmental damage caused by plastic waste. Baltimore’s lawsuit is one of the first of its kind for a U.S. city and seeks financial compensation and punitive damages for the costs of cleaning up and disposing of the defendants’ litter.

One of the key issues raised in the lawsuit is the toxic air emissions from the trash incinerator in South Baltimore, where the city sends much of its waste to be burned. The incinerator has been a source of controversy and has been the subject of a federal civil rights complaint for disproportionately harming Hispanic and Black residents in the area.

The lawsuit also highlights the false narrative around the effectiveness of plastics recycling, citing a report that details the history of lies and deceit by the oil and plastics industries to cover up the truth about plastics’ danger to the environment and public health.

Overall, the lawsuit aims to hold the companies accountable for their role in creating the plastic waste crisis and to inspire other cities to take similar legal action. Baltimore officials are committed to making the city a greener and more resilient place that prioritizes the health of its residents.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the plastic industry and the way companies are held responsible for the environmental impact of their products. As the fight against plastic pollution continues to gain momentum, Baltimore’s legal action sets a precedent for other cities to follow suit in holding corporate polluters accountable.