A Republic Services garbage truck was forced to dump 8,000 pounds of recycling along the 4300 block of 136th Place Southeast on Wednesday, after the driver noticed flaming pieces of paper flying out of the rear load container.

Bellevue Fire Lt. Rich Burke said the driver was heading down Somerset Boulevard Southeast when they noticed fiery papers coming out of the rear load container.

The driver found a flat portion of 136th Place Southeast where he could release the recyclables.

“Once it was out and exposed, it just spread on,” Burke said, the entire payload catching fire and tackled by Engine 2. “It’s a mess, but the driver really did a great job of preventing a major incident.”

Republic Services was out Wednesday to clean up the burnt debris, and the city’s streets department ensured no contaminants entered nearby stormwater basins.