From Oil Wells to Plastic Waste: New Report Exposes How the Fossil Fuel Industry Disproportionately Harm California Communities

UCLA’s Luskin Center reveals how the plastic crisis is deeply rooted in fossil fuel extraction and refining.

The proliferation of cheap, fossil fuel–derived plastic has created a global pollution problem, harming communities and ecosystems across the planet. From microplastic contamination in our food and water to the growing carbon footprint of plastic production and disposal, the plastic problem is not just about litter — it’s about climate, health, and justice. 

The new report by the University of California, Los Angeles' Luskin Center identifies a clear connection between fossil fuel infrastructure, plastic production, and the health burdens faced by vulnerable communities in California. The bottom line: 99% of plastics are manufactured from oil and gas. This means that upstream fossil-fuel infrastructure (extraction, refining) is also a part of the plastic supply chain — and a significant source of pollution for nearby communities.

Oil and Gas Refinery Impacts in California

The analysis reveals that oil wells and refineries in California are disproportionately concentrated in low-income communities of color, which are already exposed to multiple pollution sources and socioeconomic stressors. On average, populations in communities exposed to wells and refineries have significantly higher proportions of Hispanic/Latino and Black residents and significantly lower proportions of White residents, reflecting long-standing patterns of environmental racism:

• Over 2.5 million people live within 1 km of an oil or gas well
• Kern County, including Bakersfield, is home to over 70,000 active or idle oil and gas wells—a majority of the nearly 100,000 statewide. 
• Los Angeles County is home to 11 of the state’s 21 operating refineries, with a particular concentration in the working-class community of Wilmington adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles.

These facilities not only increase the risk of environmental disasters like spills, explosions, and fires but also contribute to chronic health issues, including respiratory disease, adverse birth outcomes, cancers, and cardiovascular illness.

Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund: Addressing Industry Harms

Recognizing the harms that the plastic industry has caused, especially to marginalized communities, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) sets aside $5 billion over ten years from industry members to address the damages created — and profited from — by plastic production.

The Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund (PPMF), which will begin distributing funds in 2027, presents a historic opportunity to invest in environmental justice and community health. The UCLA Luskin report underscores that these resources must be targeted toward the communities most impacted by the plastic supply chain and recommends that policymakers:

1. Acknowledge plastic’s fossil fuel origins. Treat plastic as part of the oil and gas system, not solely as a waste issue.
   
   
2. Invest in community health. Channel resources to residents living near oil wells, refineries, and other fossil fuel facilities.
   
   
3. Prioritize high-exposure areas. Direct comprehensive investments to communities burdened by multiple stages of the plastic supply chain — from extraction to disposal.

The Surfrider Foundation remains deeply committed to ensuring that California’s implementation of SB 54 delivers real benefits to the people most affected by the plastics industry. Although the distribution of PPMF won’t begin until 2027, Surfrider and our partners are working now to guarantee that the funding supports environmental justice and community-led organizations on the frontlines of pollution.

As California moves forward with rolling out the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Funds, we have a crucial opportunity to shift from pollution management to pollution prevention — investing in healthier communities, cleaner air and water, and less plastic.