Man in critical condition in SF after being crushed in garbage truck

In this file photo, a garbage truck unloads its collection of recyclable materials at Recology's Recycle Central at Pier 96 in San Francisco, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. In this file photo, a garbage truck unloads its collection of recyclable materials at Recology's Recycle Central at Pier 96 in San Francisco, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Man in critical condition in SF after being crushed in garbage truck 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

A man found in a pile of recycling at the Recology processing plant at San Francisco’s Pier 96 remained in critical condition Monday night at San Francisco General Hospital, according to San Francisco Fire Department officials.

The man was discovered near the top of a pile of bottles, cans, paper and cardboard at about 6:30 a.m. by an equipment operator preparing to load the recyclables onto a conveyor belt, said Recology spokesman Robert Reed.

Recology officials believe the man, described as middle aged, was picked up, along with a load of recyclables, in a dumpster that was lifted by mechanical arms above a large truck and deposited. Operators do not leave the truck while picking up or dumping the recycling materials, Reed said.

The truck compacts materials inside, and Jonathan Baxter, a Fire Department spokesman, said the man suffered multiple injuries all over his body consistent with being crushed.

“He’s in critical condition, but we’re just happy he’s alive,” Baxter said.

Recology officials aren’t certain what happened but said the man was probably inside one of 30 to 40 dumpsters picked up from commercial businesses in the Bayview and Potrero Hill between 4 and 5 a.m. Monday. Because he was found near the top of the recycling pile, Reed said, he was probably dumped into the truck near the end of its run.

Reed praised employees for acting quickly once the man was spotted. They notified the center’s control tower, called 911, advised the man not to move, and kept talking to him as he faded in and out of consciousness until paramedics arrived.

Reed said incidents involving people found dumped into a garbage or recycling truck happen about once a decade. He advised people to stay out of dumpsters.

“We really caution anyone from doing dumpster-diving or going inside a container,” he said. “It can be very dangerous.”

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan