Baltimore has joined the combat against environmental pollution, taking a stand by filing a lawsuit against major stakeholders in the plastic production industry, including giants like PepsiCo, Coca Cola, and Frito Lay. Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced this move, pointing to the severe environmental damage wrought by single-use plastics, according to a statement. These plastics not only mar the city’s landscapes and waterways but also leach harmful chemicals into the soil and water, posing a threat to human health as they've been discovered in human organs.

In a stance reminiscent of actions taken by New York State, Baltimore's lawsuit accuses the companies of creating a public nuisance by distributing products they know to be environmentally harmful. In addition to being a dissemination of visual pollution and a threat to wildlife, only a meager 5 percent of these plastic products can be recycled. Mayor Scott emphasizes, "We are continuously working to make Baltimore a greener, more resilient city that is ready to take on the climate challenges facing the entire world and one that prioritizes the health of our residents."

The city's legal action is striving to hold those who have compromised Baltimore’s natural beauty and the well-being of its citizens accountable. The City Solicitor Ebony Thompson is working alongside the Affirmative Litigation Division to address this issue head-on. So far, their efforts have recovered over $8 million from environmental claims against parties responsible for various pollution, including PCB and PFAS chemical contamination and cigarette filter pollution, as Thompson points out.

The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on June 20, 2024. Spearheading the legal challenge for the city are Sara Gross, Chief of the Affirmative Litigation Division, along with the law firms of Smouse & Mason, LLC, Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, LLC, and Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC. Baltimore’s determination to rein in corporate negligence that prioritizes profit over ecological and public health presents yet another illustration of cities taking the mantle in environmental stewardship.