Colgate Must Defend Claim Its Toothpaste Tubes Are Recyclable

California consumers may proceed with their class action challenging the claim by Colgate-Palmolive Co. that its toothpaste tubes are recyclable, a federal court said, denying the company’s motion to dismiss.

The consumers alleged that the statements on the packages and elsewhere are false and misleading because, even if the tubes can theoretically be recycled, only a “minuscule” number of recycling facilities in their state and throughout the country accept them, Judge Joseph C. Spero of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said Tuesday.

The plaintiffs said that the reasons recycling facilities won’t take the new toothpaste ...