One moment it was a truckload of recycleables, the next, it was all over a stretch of West Valley City asphalt and creating a traffic hazard late Thursday morning.

West Valley City police Sgt. Mike Powell said the Waste Management of Utah truck was packed with cardboard, paper and other recycleables when, for reasons unknown, its load came loose about 11 a.m. and filled a block-long section of the eastbound lanes of 3300 South with garbage.

For about two hours, traffic had to be diverted onto 3450 West and 3200 West while city public works crews used street sweepers and dumptrucks to clear the heavily-traveled route. The westbound lanes of 3300 South remained open.

"There was no malicious intent here, but when you're hauling a load [of trash] you have to be responsible for it," Powell said, noting that the Waste Management truck's driver was cited for carrying an unsecured load.

Waste Management spokeswoman Susan Hayward said the load was secured, but a restraining "bungee" device broke, allowing the trash to spill.

"Waste Management is extremely safety conscious. Our driver pulled right over," she said. "This is a very rare occasion, in fact I can't remember anything like this happening here before [with a Waste Management truck]."