§ 5-36-121 - Theft of recyclable materials.

5-36-121. Theft of recyclable materials.

(a) (1) No person shall divert to personal use any recyclable material valued at fifty dollars ($50.00) or more and placed in a container as a part of a recycling program without the consent of the generator or the collector of the recyclable material or the person owning or operating the container as a part of the recycling program.

(2) (A) For a first offense under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, a person shall be issued a citation that is a warning citation and no court appearance is required and no penalty shall be imposed by the court.

(B) A record of each warning citation issued shall be maintained and for any subsequent offense, the offender is subject to a penalty prescribed.

(3) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of violating subdivision (a)(1) of this section for a subsequent offense is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

(b) (1) No person shall divert to commercial use any recyclable material placed in a container as a part of a recycling program without the consent of the generator or the collector of the recyclable material or the person owning or operating the container as a part of the recycling program.

(2) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of violating a provision of subdivision (b)(1) of this section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.