A San Mateo County judge recently ordered a lawsuit to proceed against 10 major consumer goods companies for their alleged role in plastic pollution in California waters. Companies that include giants like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestlé USA.
As San Mateo County Superior Court Judge V. Raymond Swope issued the order in late May, denying the companies' attempt to dismiss the lawsuit.
Earth Island Institute, a Berkeley-based environmental nonprofit, sued the 10 companies, alleging they have not acknowledged their role in plastic pollution but instead blame consumers for not recycling or littering.