N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 16-471: § 16-471 On-street acceptance or transfer of recyclable containers in bulk.

a. It shall be unlawful for any person using a motor vehicle to accept, receive or otherwise collect recyclable containers in bulk from more than one person on or in any street in the city of New York.

b. It shall be unlawful for any person to transfer recyclable containers in bulk from one vehicle to another on or in any street in the city of New York where one or more of the vehicles involved in the transfer has a commercial license plate.

c. This section shall not apply to authorized employees or agents of the city engaged in the collection of solid waste or recyclable materials, persons licensed pursuant to subdivision a of section 16-505 of this code, and persons registered or exempted from registration pursuant to subdivision b of section 16-505 of this code.

d. The owner of any motor vehicle used in violation of this section shall also be liable for any such violation except where such vehicle owner establishes that the motor vehicle was used for purposes of violating the provisions of this section without such vehicle owner's permission.