New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Pepsi and Frito-Lay, blaming them for "plastic pollution."

This comes after James's office performed a survey across 13 sites along the Buffalo River that found Pepsi's single-use packaging contributed to over 17% of trash. This was three times larger than the next company's products.

APPLE SAYS IT WILL GET RID OF GREEN TEXT BUBBLES FOR NON-IPHONE USERS IN 2024

"No company is too big to ensure that their products do not damage our environment and public health. All New Yorkers have a basic right to clean water, yet PepsiCo's irresponsible packaging and marketing endanger Buffalo's water supply, environment, and public health," James said. "No one should have to worry about plastics in their drinking water, plastic garbage littering their scenic riverfront, or plastic pollution harming wildlife. I will never hesitate to take on major corporations that put the health and safety of everyday New Yorkers and our planet at risk."

NGO Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has kept track of litter left in the area and found that 78% of trash was plastic between 2013 and 2022. However, the single largest contributor of litter within the plastic category and without was cigarette butts, with over 8,000 collected over that period.

Pepsi assured the Washington Examiner that it is committed to reducing pollution and increasing recycling effectiveness.

"This is a complex issue and requires involvement from a variety of stakeholders, including businesses, municipalities, waste-reduction providers, community leaders, and consumers. PepsiCo has partnered with these groups, improving recycling infrastructure across the country, boosting consumer awareness about the importance of recycling, and establishing partnerships with organizations focused on reducing waste and accelerating sustainable packaging innovation," a Pepsi spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. "Success in this effort requires collaboration. PepsiCo has been working in New York to address the needs of communities, including advocating New York bottle bill improvements and extended producer responsibility bills."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

On Thursday, it announced it was increasing its quarterly dividend by 10% compared to last year, bringing it up by $1.265 per share.

This lawsuit is seeking compensatory damages as a result of "the harm done to the Buffalo River and its shoreline, and the citizens and inhabitants of the City of Buffalo," but the fine will be determined at trial. James is also requiring that the companies make better efforts to prevent pollution and have adequate warnings about whether their products can be recycled.