Watch: Garbage collectors in Whitehall walk away unscathed from explosion

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) — Two garbage collectors were lucky to walk away uninjured after a trash can exploded Wednesday during their morning pickup route.

The City of Whitehall released video on their Facebook page of two Local Waste employees going through their normal trash pickup routine. Both then encountered a shocking boom.

One of the collectors emptied a garbage can at the 4000 block of Elbern Avenue and within seconds after the waste goes into the truck, a large explosion occurs. The man was standing right in front of the explosion that sent trash flying onto the street and then saw a fire starting inside the truck. Another worker was with him but was standing to the side of the truck as the explosion happened.

Decades-old central Ohio co-op seeking public help to stay in business

The man quickly put out the fire and called 911 after avoiding potentially serious injuries. You can watch this in the video player above.

The culprit of the explosion was an oxygen tank inside the trash can, per the City of Whitehall. It is illegal to dispose of an oxygen tank or other hazardous waste inside a trash can, according to regulations set by Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Follow this link to learn how to properly dispose of hazardous waste.

Whitehall police said anyone with information should call 614-237-6333.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.