The ring had been in Victor's family for about one century. His great-grandmother once hid the ring in her mouth when she left the Soviet Union in 1989. It was then passed down through generations. About 20 years ago, Victor used the ring to propose to Susanna.
Susanna wore the ring daily on her left ring finger but often removed it when washing dishes to prevent damage. On 26/7, while wiping down a kitchen counter, she accidentally swept the ring and another into a trash can containing food scraps.
A day later, Victor returned to their Brooklyn apartment to find his wife in tears, then learning what happened. Initially, he believed there was no chance of retrieving the heirloom ring and planned to have a jeweler create a similar one.
The next morning, Victor changed his mind. He asked Javier Gomez, the sanitation worker responsible for his building, if it was possible to find lost items among the collected trash.
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Javier Gomez (left) and Victor pose together after finding both lost rings on 29/7. *Photo: New York City Department of Sanitation*
Gomez contacted his superiors and arranged for Victor to visit a Brooklyn trash transfer station the following day. The station held nearly 10 tons of refuse from Victor's 20-story building and another collected last week.
Victor arrived at the transfer station on 29/7. The trash pile, consisting mostly of food, diapers, and clothes, stretched about 30 meters. The overwhelming stench caused his eyes to water. "No way it's still there," Victor recalled thinking as he surveyed the mountain of waste.
Victor considered the task "searching for a needle in a haystack" and didn't want to burden friends. He planned to search alone, but Gomez proactively offered his help.
Victor remembered that the two rings might be in a white trash bag with an orange drawstring, discarded along with three blue pet pads for their family dog. The two men split up, searching different sections.
About one hour later, after sifting through nearly one-fourth of the trash pile, Gomez spotted a white bag near the bottom. He tore open the bag, saw the three blue pet pads, and then discovered the platinum ring.
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The family heirloom platinum ring (right) and the gold ring Victor's wife accidentally threw away. *Photo: New York City Department of Sanitation*
Hearing Gomez's whistle, Victor rushed across the trash mountain. He smiled upon seeing the ring he sought. Gomez continued to dig deeper into the bag, past potato peels, and found the gold ring Susanna had also accidentally discarded.
Before leaving the transfer station, Victor took a photo with Gomez. He plans to pass the heirloom ring to his 15-year-old son and display the photo at his son's wedding if he marries. Victor also told Gomez that he would be invited to the wedding.
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) shared the story of the recovered rings on social media this month.
Vincent Gragnani, a DSNY representative, stated that individuals who lose valuable items can schedule an appointment to search through trash piles. They are permitted to bring one helper, and the agency provides gloves, shovels, and other necessary tools.
Thanh Danh (*According to The Washington Post, AP*)
