WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Keurig Dr Pepper Inc ( KDP )

agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine to settle U.S.

Securities and Exchange Commission charges that the beverage

company made inaccurate statements regarding the recyclability

of its K-Cup pods, the regulator said on Tuesday.

Keurig in 2019 and 2020 said testing showed its K-Cup pods

can be "effectively recycled," even though two of the largest

U.S. recycling companies had doubts about the commercial

feasibility of recycling them and did not intend to accept them,

the SEC said in a statement. Keurig did not disclose to

investors the negative feedback from the recycling firms.

The SEC found that with the omission, Keurig violated key

provisions of securities laws designed to protect investors. In

addition to the civil penalty, the company agreed to a

cease-and-desist order, the regulator said.

A spokesperson for Keurig, which did not admit or deny the

SEC's findings, said the company is pleased to have resolved the

matter and its K-Cup pods are made from a recyclable plastic

that is widely accepted at curbside recycling systems across

North America.

"We continue to encourage consumers to check with their

local recycling program to verify acceptance of pods, as they

are not recycled in many communities," the spokesperson said.