Ownership of recyclable materials; unauthorized collection of recyclable materials prohibited; penalty; civil remedy

1. From the time recyclable materials are placed in a container provided by a private recycling business or the person designated by the county or other municipality to collect recyclable materials: (a) At curbside for collection; or (b) At any other appropriate site designated for collection, Ê the recyclable materials are the property of the private recycling business or person designated by the county or other municipality to collect them, as appropriate. 2. Any person engaged in the unauthorized collection of recyclable materials is guilty of a misdemeanor. Each such unauthorized collection constitutes a separate and distinct offense. 3. As an alternative to the criminal penalty set forth in subsection 2, the county or other municipality, the private recycling business and the person designated to collect the recyclable materials may independently enforce the provisions of this section in a civil action. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 445C.010 to 445C.120, inclusive, a person who engages in the unauthorized collection of recyclable materials is liable to the private recycling business or the person designated to make such collections, as appropriate, for three times the damages caused by the unauthorized collection.