INVER GROVE HEIGHTS — Some valuable jewelry was saved from incineration thanks to an Inver Grove Heights trash hauler.

Todd O’Connor got a call from home base at Troje’s Trash Thursday after an Inver Grove Heights woman contacted the company in desperation. She had accidentally discarded a suitcase that contained her sentimental jewelry.

O’Connor drove to the unloading area and used a hockey stick to sort through six tons of trash collected at 300 stops. Luckily the suitcase was bright orange, so it was easier to spot. O’Connor said he was surprised it only took 10 to 15 minutes to find the suitcase contained the jewelry.

He said had the woman placed her call a few hours later, the suitcase would have been on a conveyor belt headed for the incinerator.