Schenectady, NY Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Section 161-4F, Ownership of Recyclables, part of the Mandatory Recycling Law in Chapter 161, Article II, addresses recyclables theft, sometimes called scavenging, from curbside collection points. It is a violation of the chapter for any person to collect, pick up or remove, or cause to be collected, picked up or removed, any recyclables placed out for collection, unless that person has the permission of whoever deposited the material or is registered with the City of Schenectady as an authorized collector under § 161-4K. Each separate collection, pickup or removal from each individual location counts as its own distinct offense, so a scavenger working multiple curbside stops in one trip can face a separate charge for every address.

The provision does leave residents a lawful outlet for their own recyclables: a person may sell or donate recyclables directly to recyclers, as long as the material has not already been placed at the curb for city collection. The rule exists because the city's recycling program depends on secondary-market sales of source-separated material under § 161-4G, and unregistered removal of curbside recyclables cuts into the revenue and materials the city counts on to fund and justify the program.