Published
September 23, 2023
Updated
July 29, 2026
This settlement resolved claims that Reynolds Consumer Products labeled certain Hefty and Great Value bags for recycling when many waste facilities would not accept them. It paid an estimated $12 without receipts, or up to $50 with them, to people who bought the bags between July 2018 and August 2023 — and the claim window closed in December 2023.
Current Status
Claims are closed. Claim forms had to be submitted by December 13, 2023, and the settlement administrator no longer accepts them. The court held the final approval hearing on November 15, 2023 and granted final approval, according to the official settlement website. No further action is available to class members through this settlement.If you are looking for a recycling-bag matter that is still open, the Arizona Attorney General reached a separate agreement with Reynolds in 2026 with its own restitution process — see the Hefty recycling bags settlement page. It is a different case from the one on this page.
Status
Claims Closed — Final Approval Granted
Final approval granted November 15, 2023.
Claim Deadline
December 13, 2023
New claims are no longer accepted.
Estimated Payout
$12 – $50
Estimated $2.00 per package · up to 6 packages without proof · up to 25 packages with proof
Proof Required
No
No receipts were needed for the six-package tier; proof of purchase was required to claim beyond it.
What the Case Was About
Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc. makes the Hefty brand and manufactured the Great Value branded recycling bags sold at Walmart. The class action alleged that marketing these bags as "recycling" bags was misleading, because many municipal recycling programs and material recovery facilities do not accept the bags themselves and will not process material delivered in them. The complaint pleaded Illinois consumer protection claims along with common-law fraud.Reynolds denied the allegations and denied any wrongdoing. The court did not decide the merits, and no finding was made that Reynolds violated any law. Reynolds agreed to the settlement to resolve the claims and end the litigation.
Who Was Covered?
The class covered people in the United States who bought qualifying Hefty or Great Value branded recycling bags for their own personal use, rather than for resale, between July 20, 2018 and August 30, 2023.Which Bags Qualified?
The settlement listed the following packages as class products:| Product | Size | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Blue | 30 Gallon | 36 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Clear | 30 Gallon | 36 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Blue | 30 Gallon | 40 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Clear | 30 Gallon | 40 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Blue | 13 Gallon | 60 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Clear | 13 Gallon | 60 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Blue | 13 Gallon | 80 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags, Clear | 13 Gallon | 80 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags | 30 Gallon | 36 |
| Hefty Recycling Bags | 13 Gallon | 80 |
| Hefty Cinch Sak Recycling Bags | 13 Gallon | 45 |
| Hefty Cinch Sak Recycling Bags | 30 Gallon | 28 |
| Hefty Flap Tie Recycling Bags | 13 Gallon | 75 |
| Hefty Flap Tie Recycling Bags | 30 Gallon | 40 |
| Hefty Twist Tie Recycling Bags, Blue | 30 Gallon | 24 |
| Hefty Twist Tie Recycling Bags, Clear | 30 Gallon | 24 |
| Great Value Recycling Bags, Blue | 13 Gallon | 20 |
| Great Value Recycling Bags, Clear | 13 Gallon | 20 |
| Great Value Recycling Bags, Blue | 30 Gallon | 20 |
| Great Value Recycling Bags, Clear | 30 Gallon | 20 |
What the Settlement Paid
Reynolds funded a $3,000,000 settlement fund. Payment was calculated per qualifying package at an estimated $2.00 each, with two filing tiers:• Without proof of purchase: up to six qualifying packages, for an estimated maximum of $12.
• With proof of purchase: up to 25 qualifying packages, for a maximum of $50.
The $2.00 per-package figure was an estimate. The notice provided that the amount could be adjusted up or down depending on how many valid claims the administrator received, so a claimant's actual payment was not fixed at filing time.
What Proof Was Required?
No documentation was needed to file the six-package tier, and no administrator-issued claim ID gated the claim form, which is why this page is marked Proof Required: No. Proof of purchase — a receipt or comparable record — was required only to claim more than six packages, up to the 25-package maximum.What Happened Next?
Final approval closed out this class action, but the labeling of bags marketed for recycling collection has continued to draw state enforcement. The Minnesota Attorney General announced a resolution with Reynolds and Walmart in August 2024, and the Arizona Attorney General announced a settlement with Reynolds in February 2026. Those are separate government actions with their own terms; they do not pay this class.Sources
• Official settlement website: Recycling Bag Settlement.com• Frequently asked questions and class notice posted by the settlement administrator, including the statement that the court held the final approval hearing on November 15, 2023 and granted final approval
• Case caption: Gudgel et al. v. Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc. et al., No. 23LA00000486 (Ill. Cir. Ct., 19th Jud. Cir., Lake County)
• Settlement notice press release issued by the settlement administrator, September 2023
• Resource Recycling reporting on the settlement and on the later Minnesota and Arizona state actions
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$3,000,000
Case Title
Gudgel et al. v. Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc. et al.
Case Number
23LA00000486
Court
Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois
Defendant
Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
Class Period
July 20, 2018 – August 30, 2023
Claim Deadline
December 13, 2023
Final Approval Hearing
November 15, 2023
Final approval granted.
Status
Claims Closed — Final Approval Granted
Official Website
Recycling Bag Settlement.com
