- A Canadian husband went to extraordinary lengths to recover his wife’s lost wedding rings—digging through 18 tonnes of compost at a local landfill.
- Steve Van Ysseldyk embarked on the messy mission after realizing the rings had accidentally been tossed out with a spilled bag of popcorn.
- With help from landfill staff and a bit of luck, he found both rings within an hour.
- The story has since captured hearts across the globe, with many praising his determination and devotion.
In a story that feels ripped straight from a rom-com script, a Canadian man has become an unlikely hero after recovering his wife’s lost wedding rings from a mountain of compost. Steve Van Ysseldyk, from British Columbia, didn’t hesitate when he realized the rings had been accidentally thrown out with a bag of buttery popcorn.
The mishap began after a movie night, when Steve and his wife Jeannine brought home a bag of popcorn that spilled in their garden. While cleaning up the mess, Jeannine’s rings slipped off her fingers and into the bag—unnoticed. The popcorn, along with the rings, ended up in the compost bin, which was collected the next morning.
Once they realized the rings were missing, Steve sprang into action. After reviewing home security footage to pinpoint the moment they were lost, he traced the compost’s journey to the Mission Sanitary Landfill. Armed with gloves, a shovel, and sheer determination, he arrived at the dump ready to dig.
Despite the rain, the smell, and the skepticism of staff, Steve pressed on. With help from site worker Denny Webster, who used an excavator to sift through the waste, Steve began searching for clues—starting with the popcorn bag and a few familiar food items. Miraculously, he spotted some discarded sausages from their home, and not long after, uncovered the first ring. Within an hour, both rings were found.
Back home, Jeannine was shopping for a metal detector to assist in the search when she got the call. Overwhelmed with emotion, she broke down in tears. The ordeal, she later said, only strengthened their bond.
Steve’s compost crusade has since gone viral, with many calling it a testament to love, persistence, and the power of hope—even in the stinkiest of places.
