Public works staff members in Greenville, South Carolina, helped Melanie Harper find her lost wedding band.Photo:City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/FacebookA South Carolina woman has been reunited with a treasured item.Melanie Harper of Greenville was tossing her recyclables in a bin at a local recycling center on Sunday when the unthinkable happened. Her diamond and white gold wedding band slipped off her finger, getting lost amid the pile of plastic, paper and cardboard.According toa poston the City of Greenville’s Facebook page, Harper emailed the city’s public works department to ask staff to keep a lookout for her ring, though she wasn’t optimistic.“I know the likelihood of finding this is slim to none. But if the ring is found during the course of processing the recycling, I would be most appreciative if someone could contact me,” she wrote.Workers sifted through plastic and cardboard to locate Melanie Harper’s ring.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/FacebookLittle did she know, the staff at the recycling center was quickly jumping into action. On Monday morning, instead of processing the bin, public works supervisors and litter crew members dumped the contents out on the ground and meticulously sifted through the recyclables.“After hours of searching, Travis Golden struck gold. White gold. They called a very grateful Melanie, who came out to PW to reunite with her ring,” read the post, which shouted out Golden and the other staff members who pitched in to find the ring. “We are so grateful for your commitment to our community.“Melanie Harper’s ring.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/Facebook"Finding a needle in a haystack = hard. Finding a ring in a recycling bin = nearly impossible. Unless you’re City of Greenville Public Works, where employees truly dive into their work!” the post added.The comment section was also filled with praise for the workers.“So nice! I hope those gentlemen get treated to a steak dinner!” wrote on person, while another commented, “What a wonderful act of kindness and very hard work! Thank you for all you do. Proud of you!!“Melanie Harper poses with members of the City of Greenville Public Works staff.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/FacebookNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In a similar story back in November, a New Hampshire woman accidentally threw her wedding ring in the trash. She called the local transfer station and explained her predicament.“She gave me some particulars: at what time her husband threw the trash out, what was in the trash bag, what kind of car he was driving,” Dennis Senibaldi, general services director for the Windham-based station, told local news outletWHDHat the time.Using surveillance footage, Senibaldi was able to pinpoint where the ring was likely to be. He and his crew had to dig 12 feet down into a trailer filled with about 20 tons of trash.After a two-hour search, they hit the jackpot and found the woman’s trash bag containing the ring. Senibaldi promptly called her to give her the good news.“Talking to her on Wednesday, she was completely heartbroken. Friday, when she came in, she was happy as can be, gave me a big hug and was very thankful,” he recalled to WHDH.“We are public servants and I think this really brings the meaning of public service,” he added.

Public works staff members in Greenville, South Carolina, helped Melanie Harper find her lost wedding band.Photo:City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/Facebook

Woman’s Lost Wedding Ring Found at a South Carolina Recycling Center: ‘Needle in a Haystack’

City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/Facebook

A South Carolina woman has been reunited with a treasured item.Melanie Harper of Greenville was tossing her recyclables in a bin at a local recycling center on Sunday when the unthinkable happened. Her diamond and white gold wedding band slipped off her finger, getting lost amid the pile of plastic, paper and cardboard.According toa poston the City of Greenville’s Facebook page, Harper emailed the city’s public works department to ask staff to keep a lookout for her ring, though she wasn’t optimistic.“I know the likelihood of finding this is slim to none. But if the ring is found during the course of processing the recycling, I would be most appreciative if someone could contact me,” she wrote.Workers sifted through plastic and cardboard to locate Melanie Harper’s ring.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/FacebookLittle did she know, the staff at the recycling center was quickly jumping into action. On Monday morning, instead of processing the bin, public works supervisors and litter crew members dumped the contents out on the ground and meticulously sifted through the recyclables.“After hours of searching, Travis Golden struck gold. White gold. They called a very grateful Melanie, who came out to PW to reunite with her ring,” read the post, which shouted out Golden and the other staff members who pitched in to find the ring. “We are so grateful for your commitment to our community.“Melanie Harper’s ring.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/Facebook"Finding a needle in a haystack = hard. Finding a ring in a recycling bin = nearly impossible. Unless you’re City of Greenville Public Works, where employees truly dive into their work!” the post added.The comment section was also filled with praise for the workers.“So nice! I hope those gentlemen get treated to a steak dinner!” wrote on person, while another commented, “What a wonderful act of kindness and very hard work! Thank you for all you do. Proud of you!!“Melanie Harper poses with members of the City of Greenville Public Works staff.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/FacebookNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In a similar story back in November, a New Hampshire woman accidentally threw her wedding ring in the trash. She called the local transfer station and explained her predicament.“She gave me some particulars: at what time her husband threw the trash out, what was in the trash bag, what kind of car he was driving,” Dennis Senibaldi, general services director for the Windham-based station, told local news outletWHDHat the time.Using surveillance footage, Senibaldi was able to pinpoint where the ring was likely to be. He and his crew had to dig 12 feet down into a trailer filled with about 20 tons of trash.After a two-hour search, they hit the jackpot and found the woman’s trash bag containing the ring. Senibaldi promptly called her to give her the good news.“Talking to her on Wednesday, she was completely heartbroken. Friday, when she came in, she was happy as can be, gave me a big hug and was very thankful,” he recalled to WHDH.“We are public servants and I think this really brings the meaning of public service,” he added.

A South Carolina woman has been reunited with a treasured item.

Melanie Harper of Greenville was tossing her recyclables in a bin at a local recycling center on Sunday when the unthinkable happened. Her diamond and white gold wedding band slipped off her finger, getting lost amid the pile of plastic, paper and cardboard.

According toa poston the City of Greenville’s Facebook page, Harper emailed the city’s public works department to ask staff to keep a lookout for her ring, though she wasn’t optimistic.

“I know the likelihood of finding this is slim to none. But if the ring is found during the course of processing the recycling, I would be most appreciative if someone could contact me,” she wrote.

Workers sifted through plastic and cardboard to locate Melanie Harper’s ring.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/Facebook

Woman’s Lost Wedding Ring Found at a South Carolina Recycling Center: ‘Needle in a Haystack’

Little did she know, the staff at the recycling center was quickly jumping into action. On Monday morning, instead of processing the bin, public works supervisors and litter crew members dumped the contents out on the ground and meticulously sifted through the recyclables.

“After hours of searching, Travis Golden struck gold. White gold. They called a very grateful Melanie, who came out to PW to reunite with her ring,” read the post, which shouted out Golden and the other staff members who pitched in to find the ring. “We are so grateful for your commitment to our community.”

Melanie Harper’s ring.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/Facebook

Woman’s Lost Wedding Ring Found at a South Carolina Recycling Center: ‘Needle in a Haystack’

“Finding a needle in a haystack = hard. Finding a ring in a recycling bin = nearly impossible. Unless you’re City of Greenville Public Works, where employees truly dive into their work!” the post added.

The comment section was also filled with praise for the workers.

“So nice! I hope those gentlemen get treated to a steak dinner!” wrote on person, while another commented, “What a wonderful act of kindness and very hard work! Thank you for all you do. Proud of you!!”

Melanie Harper poses with members of the City of Greenville Public Works staff.City of Greenville, South Carolina Government/Facebook

lost-wedding-ring

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a similar story back in November, a New Hampshire woman accidentally threw her wedding ring in the trash. She called the local transfer station and explained her predicament.

“She gave me some particulars: at what time her husband threw the trash out, what was in the trash bag, what kind of car he was driving,” Dennis Senibaldi, general services director for the Windham-based station, told local news outletWHDHat the time.

Using surveillance footage, Senibaldi was able to pinpoint where the ring was likely to be. He and his crew had to dig 12 feet down into a trailer filled with about 20 tons of trash.

After a two-hour search, they hit the jackpot and found the woman’s trash bag containing the ring. Senibaldi promptly called her to give her the good news.

“Talking to her on Wednesday, she was completely heartbroken. Friday, when she came in, she was happy as can be, gave me a big hug and was very thankful,” he recalled to WHDH.

“We are public servants and I think this really brings the meaning of public service,” he added.

source: people.com