Dec 17 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), Chevron ( CVX )

and other top plastics producers and manufacturers misled the

public for years about the viability of plastic recycling,

causing consumers to pay higher prices and contributing to

global waste, a new lawsuit alleged.

Four residents of Missouri, Kansas, California and Florida

filed the lawsuit on Monday in federal court in Missouri on

behalf of a proposed class of millions of purchasers of plastic

products nationwide.

The complaint alleged Exxon and other companies, including

DuPont ( DD ) and Dow Chemical , violated antitrust law

through a coordinated campaign to misrepresent how much and

which types of plastic could be recycled.

The alleged conspiracy artificially increased demand for

plastic products, driving up profits, according to the lawsuit.

"These calculated efforts have effectively protected and

expanded plastic markets, while stalling legislative or

regulatory action that would meaningfully address plastic waste

and pollution," the lawsuit said. The consumers also alleged

violations of state consumer protection laws.

A lawyer for Chevron ( CVX ) in a statement on Tuesday said there

was no basis for the company to be named as a defendant.

"The plaintiff in this meritless action fails to include

a single allegation of wrongdoing by Chevron ( CVX ) in the entire

complaint," Theodore Boutrous Jr of law firm Gibson, Dunn &

Crutcher said.

Exxon had no immediate comment. DuPont ( DD ), Dow and a lead

attorney for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to

requests for comment.

In September, California and several environmental groups

sued Exxon in California state court, accusing the oil giant of

participating in a decades-long campaign to mislead consumers

about the limitations of recycling plastic.

Exxon in response to California's lawsuit said advanced

recycling and other solutions work and that California had

failed to correct problems in its recycling system.

The consumer lawsuit asked a judge to allow class-action

status for people who indirectly purchased plastics from January

1990 to now.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction barring the companies from

advertising their plastics as recyclable, and unspecified

monetary damages for the increased cost of plastic products that

consumers purchased from the companies.

"Defendants should be required to repay the consumers they

lied to and defrauded," the lawsuit said.

The case is Billie Rodriguez et al v. Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) et al,

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, No.

4:24-cv-00803-SRB.

For plaintiffs: Rex Sharp of Sharp Law

Read more:

Plastics industry group loses bid to block California AG's

subpoena

California says Exxon's recycling claims created a 'public

nuisance.' What does that mean?

California sues Exxon over global plastic pollution