Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced a settlement with Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc. and Reynolds Consumer Products LLC regarding the marketing of Hefty brand “Recycling” bags. The lawsuit, filed in August 2025, alleged that Reynolds misrepresented its bags as recyclable in Arizona when they are not.
“Companies should not be able to exploit Arizonans’ well-meaning desire to protect the environment,” said Attorney General Mayes. “We won’t allow companies to mislead consumers and imply products sold in our state are recyclable unless they can actually be recycled in Arizona.”
According to the complaint, Reynolds sold transparent blue and clear “Recycling” bags throughout Arizona with packaging suggesting they could be used for general recycling. However, these bags are not accepted at recycling facilities in the state and may cause recyclable materials placed inside them to end up in landfills. The bags can also disrupt operations at recycling centers by becoming entangled in equipment.
While other states have taken similar legal action against Reynolds and reached settlements, this is the first time the company will remove images of recyclables from its bag packaging or explicitly state on the front that the bags are not recyclable.
Under the terms of the Consent Judgment, Reynolds is barred from selling “recycling” bags unless most Arizona recycling facilities accept them. The company must redesign its clear and blue bag packaging nationwide to eliminate misleading images and include a statement on each package: “These Bags Are Not Recyclable.” Additionally, Reynolds will pay $30,000 in restitution for consumers, $157,000 to the state, and $25,000 for costs and attorneys’ fees.
Arizona residents who purchased these products are encouraged to file a complaint before October 1, 2026 for potential restitution consideration.
The case was managed by Division Chief Counsel Felecia Rotellini and Unit Chief Counsel Dylan Jones.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office acts as the state’s main legal entity providing advocacy and protection for residents across various issues such as elder abuse and civil rights violations (official website). It also participates in federal lawsuits and supports initiatives like fair housing measures (official website). Kris Mayes serves as Arizona’s 27th attorney general and is recognized as the first mother to hold this position (official website).
A copy of the Consent Judgment (pending approval) is available online. For those who believe they have been victims of consumer fraud or need more information about filing complaints with the Attorney General’s Office statewide—including outside Phoenix or Tucson—resources are available through their website.
