How Long Do Suitcases Stay On Baggage Carousels After Their Arrival?

A traveler’s worst nightmare might be finding out their luggage has been lost by the airline, after waiting at baggage claim for the bag to emerge, but it never does. What happens if the opposite were to occur? Sometimes, after all the bags have made their way onto the baggage carousel and passengers have picked up their respective bags and left, there are a few lingering suitcases going around and around with no one claiming them. What happens to these unclaimed bags?