$212,000 Hefty recyclable bags settlement

Reynolds Consumer Products has agreed to a $212,000 settlement to resolve allegations from the Arizona attorney general that the company misleadingly marketed and advertised its Hefty brand “Recycling” bags as recyclable when they are not accepted by Arizona municipal recycling programs.

The settlement benefits Arizona consumers who purchased Reynolds’ “Recycling” bags or transparent blue or clear Hefty bags and who file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. It resolves allegations from a lawsuit, filed in August 2025, that Reynolds engaged in “greenwashing” by using deceptive packaging that included the word “RECYCLING” and images of bags filled with recyclable items like cans and bottles.

These representations allegedly induced environmentally conscious consumers to pay a premium for products that were actually non-recyclable in Arizona and could cause mechanical shutdowns at recycling facilities if they became entangled in sorting equipment.

Reynolds Consumer Products is a Delaware-based company that manufactures and sells a variety of household goods, including the Hefty brand of plastic bags.

The company denies any wrongdoing or violation of the law but agreed to pay $212,000 to settle all claims and avoid further litigation.

Under terms of the agreement, Reynolds will provide $30,000 in consumer restitution and implement a nationwide packaging redesign estimated to cost at least $80,000. This redesign must remove images of bags filled with recyclables and explicitly state on the front of the box, “These Bags Are Not Recyclable”.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive a cash payment.

Class members can receive a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on the amount they paid for Hefty recycling bags. No payment estimates are available at this time.

To receive a benefit from the settlement, eligible consumers must submit a complaint through the Arizona Attorney General’s website or by mail before the deadline of Oct.