A Mission couple recovered their wedding rings after a surprising and smelly journey that led them to a local landfill. Steve and Jeannine Van Ysseldyk lost the rings during a movie night, only to discover that the missing jewels were buried in a compost pile.
Jeannine’s solitaire diamond ring, an upgrade from her engagement ring, and the couple’s 10-year anniversary band had vanished after a bag of popcorn spilled outside their car. What followed was an unusual treasure hunt that tested patience, determination, and noses.
Steve approached compost processor Denny Webster at the Mission Sanitary Landfill with an unusual request. “I’m wondering if I can look in the compost pile for my wife’s rings,” he asked. He described the bag containing the rings, including the popcorn and a small box from a local doughnut shop.
Webster was initially skeptical. He processes dozens of trucks of waste each day and doubted the rings could be found. However, Steve quickly proved he knew exactly what he was looking for. “I looked, and said, ‘Oh, there is a popcorn bag,’” Webster recalled. “Then he noticed some sausages that were his. I thought, ‘Maybe this man is legit.’”
Steve and Webster began the search in a rain-soaked, odorous compost pile. The conditions were far from pleasant, but Steve remained determined. “He’s on his hands and knees in the rain, and it’s very stinky. No one in their right mind would be doing that,” Webster said.
The path to the landfill began the night before, during a movie outing at the Langley IMAX. Jeannine brought home a large bag of popcorn for her daughter, which spilled on the lawn. She cleaned up the buttery mess using her jeweled hand and brought the rest of the popcorn inside. Eventually, the empty bag went into the compost pickup bin.
The missing rings became apparent the following evening at dinner. Jeannine noticed they were gone after washing her hands. “I looked down and said, ‘Where are my rings?’ I had to leave the restaurant because I was upset,” she said.
After checking multiple locations, Steve reviewed home security footage to determine the last time Jeannine wore the rings. His conclusion was clear: the rings had gone out with the compost.
On Friday morning, Steve met Webster at the landfill. Using an excavator, Webster scooped compost piles while Steve carefully searched through them. The smell was intense, but the rings were found surprisingly fast. “He found the ring fairly quickly, fifteen minutes after finding the popcorn bag,” Webster said.
Steve immediately called Jeannine to share the good news. “She was at Princess Auto buying a metal detector because I told her to go there,” he said. Moments later, Steve found the second ring and called her again. By then, Jeannine had already purchased the metal detector, ready for the search.
The couple’s unusual experience highlights the lengths people will go to recover treasured possessions. Their story also underscores the importance of careful handling when moving items from outings back into the home.
The rings, now safely back on Jeannine’s finger and the anniversary band on Steve’s, mark a happy ending to a unique ordeal. What started as a simple movie night turned into a memorable adventure that combined persistence, careful observation, and a willingness to brave a smelly compost pile.
