Connecticut sues Reynolds over Hefty ‘Recycling Bags’ being non-recyclable

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut is suing Reynolds over Hefty “recycling” trash bags that are actually not recyclable.

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The Associated Press says Connecticut has filed a lawsuit against Reynolds Consumer Products over alleged illegal marketing of their Hefty trash bags as recycling bags even though the bags are not recyclable.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the bags cannot go into the state’s single-stream recycling system, according to the AP. He accused Reynolds of false and deceptive marketing that is in violation of Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act.

“Hefty Recycling Bags are not recyclable, and any recyclable items inside them are tossed on the trash heap. But you would never know that based on Reynolds’s false advertisements. Reynolds deceived Connecticut families and undermined our state’s recycling systems. Our lawsuit seeks to hold Reynolds accountable for these intentional misrepresentations,” said Attorney General Tong in the news release.

The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the Connecticut Superior Court. The state is seeking an unspecified amount of monetary damages including attorneys’ fees and bag sales along with an order that would prevent further deception, according to the AP.

“Many people take great care to purchase recyclable products, and it’s important for consumers to be able to easily identify if the products they buy are what they’re advertised to be. This is another example of why laws to prevent false or misleading advertisements are so important to help protect consumers,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull in the news release.

The AP says Reynolds Consumer Products has not yet responded to the lawsuit claims.

For more information about what can and can’t be recycled in Connecticut, visit the state recycling website.

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