Ownership of refuse materials, when placed in the containers by the occupants or owners of premises upon which refuse accumulates, shall be vested in the Authority or contractor in the event the Authority delegates its refuse collection operation to a contractor as herein provided, and shall thereafter be subject to the exclusive control of the Authority, its employees or contractors and no person shall meddle with refuse containers or in any way pilfer or scatter contents thereof, or junk, in any alley or street within the City limits. (1988 Code § 17-211)