Philadelphia sues firms over plastics recyclability claims
October 1, 2025The city of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against bakery giant Bimbo Bakeries and consumer goods producer SC Johnson & Son, accusing the companies of misleading consumers about the recyclability of their single-use plastic bags.
Filed on September 24, the complaint alleges that both companies used the chasing arrows recycling symbol on packaging, giving the impression that plastic films and bags could be recycled through the city’s system. Officials said the reality is different: plastic films are not recyclable in Philadelphia’s municipal program and typically end up in waste facilities.
While some packaging directed consumers to return bags to supermarkets for recycling, the city claims this too was deceptive, noting that even store drop-off programs rarely result in plastic film being reprocessed.
The lawsuit describes the companies’ packaging as a “very common contaminant” in Philadelphia’s recycling stream, reducing plant efficiency, damaging infrastructure, and driving up operational costs. “Meanwhile, the companies gain profit by deceiving consumers who believe they are shopping consciously to reduce waste,” the complaint states.
Philadelphia is seeking an injunction to force changes to the companies’ marketing practices, civil penalties under its Consumer Protection Ordinance, and compensation for the costs it says stem from the alleged deceptive conduct.
