The company’s packaging was found to be the most significant contributor to plastic waste clogging the Buffalo River.
Plastic trash produced by the company PepsiCo has become a “persistent and dangerous form of plastic pollution” for residents of the Buffalo River watershed in upstate New York, according to a new lawsuit filed Wednesday.
The suit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, is one of the first legal challenges from a state against a major plastic producer. It draws on a 2022 investigation from James’ office in which PepsiCo-branded plastic packaging was found to be by far the most significant contributor to plastic waste clogging the Buffalo River and its tributaries. Out of nearly 2,000 pieces of plastic trash collected at 13 sites along the waterways, PepsiCo products — which include brands like Aquafina, Cheetos, Gatorade, and Lay’s — accounted for more than 17 percent of those with identifiable branding.
All that plastic litter is breaking down into tiny fragments — microplastics — that are winding up in Buffalo’s water supply and the fish that people eat. Some of the chemicals contained in microplastics are carcinogenic, and researchers have raised concerns that the particles could cause reproductive dysfunction and other maladies.
“PepsiCo’s irresponsible packaging and marketing endanger Buffalo’s water supply, environment, and public health,” James said in a statement.
Great…work on fighting to make them do that. I truly hope you win. In the meantime, how about we do something about the existing problem before it gets worse?
If only there was a lawsuit brought to the company in question by the government to force them to do it…
You still have to win it first. But until then, how about we just actually do something about the problem?
You seem to think they're dropping empty 2 liter bottles down the hill and people can walk over, pick them up, and return them at a bottle return.
It's literally plastic trash, not something you can hike over with your kids and collect for a few cents.
And again, the public should not be held responsible for a giant company's horrid acts.
Right, so you just want to complain…
No. I want the company to own up and take care of it. Not the regular people that live in the area.
Idk why that's such a difficult thing for you to understand.
What do you mean? The existing problems is plastic packaging and the solution is to ban it. Make an exception for water and that's it. No one needs any other drinks. If someone really wants to drink Pepsi make them pay extra and carry glass bottles. Let's stop behaving like plastic bottles are essential for life and get rid of this shit.