An eco-friendly city Sanitation worker was arrested after he smashed a man in the head with a shovel in Brooklyn during an argument over recyclable trash.

The argument broke out after Randolph Garcia, 45, was working his East New York route picking up trash on Ashford Place near Sutter Avenue about 9:30 a.m. today.

He caught a 42-year-old man tossing pieces of cardboard in the back of his sanitation truck while he wasn’t looking, sources said.

Words were exchanged and Garcia allegedly grabbed a shovel and smashed the man over the head, said sources.

The victim was taken to Brookdale hospital where he was listed in stable condition. Garcia was arrested and charged with assault and weapons possession for wielding the shovel, police said.