An employee of a Japanese waste collection facility has handed in Y42.5 million (£300,000) in cash that he found in dumped rubbish, bolstering the nation's reputation for honesty.

The 63-year-old worker, who has not been identified, found the cash in the rubbish disposal plant in the town of Numata, central Japan, on Tuesday. Police were informed and are treating the matter as a case of lost property, the Mainichi newspaper reported.

Authorities are calling on anyone who believes the money may belong to them to come forward, although they are refusing to provide further details on the container the money was found in to eliminate false claims.