Kathmandu— In Bitonto, Italy, garbage collectors from the local waste management company SANB discovered a €1 million ($1.15 million) lottery ticket in a truck full of trash. The ticket had been mistakenly thrown away by its owner who thought she had lost the winning numbers after her local shop's machine indicated 'non-payable.'

The Search Begins

After realizing that her lottery ticket was missing, a distraught woman contacted SANB administrator Roberto Nicola Toscano. The company quickly identified which garbage truck had collected the bin containing the discarded ticket and stopped it for inspection at a specialized waste site equipped to handle such searches safely.

The workers meticulously combed through the trash over an entire day, facing unpleasant conditions but ultimately finding the ticket intact.

Professionalism and Luck

SANB administrator Roberto Nicola Toscano emphasized that the successful recovery was due to a combination of professionalism, organization, and sheer luck. He noted that the woman had promised to cover all additional costs incurred by the search operation.

Toscano expressed his joy over the outcome, stating that without the dedication of the garbage workers, such an impossible result would not have been possible.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.