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A lawsuit targeting major brand owners drew reader interest last month, along with stories examining the history of extended producer responsibility in British Columbia, brand owners extending PCR target dates, a recycled-content bag ban in California and the value of collaboration across the plastics value chain.

The list below shows our top stories published in June in terms of unique page views.

1 | Baltimore sues PepsiCo, Coca-Cola for cleanup costs

The City of Baltimore, Maryland, has filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and other major companies to recoup costs associated with cleaning up plastic pollution.

2 | EPR of the past, present and future in British Columbia

How did a law intended to stop can-tabs litter in British Columbia lead to today’s expansive extended producer responsibility laws? Those involved in its evolution traced the path in a webinar hosted by the Coast Waste Management Association.

3 | Brand owners announce targets for next five years

The U.S. Plastics Pact this week unveiled the goals its signatories will strive for during the next five years. Most of the goals build on the efforts over the past five years, and the group’s target date to hit 30% average recycled content has been extended from 2025 to 2030.

4 | Complete plastic bag ban clears California Senate

A bill that expands California’s bag ban to prohibit all plastic bags – even the reusable recycled-content bags that are a major driver of post-consumer film resin sales – is working its way through the California legislative system. Reclaimers and bag producers have come out against the bill.

5 | Thinking outside the sustainability box

Collaboration between all parts of the plastic value chain is necessary to advance sustainability goals, and four companies at the 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference showed how they’re embodying that idea.