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$800 Million in a Trash Bag: The Man Determined to Reclaim His Lost Bitcoin

James Howells lost a hard drive containing $800 million in Bitcoin in a landfill in 2013. After years of legal battles, his latest plan is to buy the landfill to recover his fortune. But is this a bold strategy or a lost cause?

In 2013, James Howells, a British IT worker, unknowingly threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin. At the time, the cryptocurrency was still in its early days, and the lost Bitcoin was worth around $9 million. However, as Bitcoin’s value soared over the years, that same hard drive is now worth nearly $800 million—buried under layers of waste in a landfill in Newport, Wales.

For more than a decade, Howells has been fighting to recover what could be one of the most valuable lost items in history. His attempts to access the landfill have been met with legal and bureaucratic obstacles, leaving him frustrated but undeterred. He has approached experts in excavation, data recovery, and environmental science, hoping to devise a plan that would allow him to retrieve the drive without violating local regulations. Each effort, however, has been blocked by the local government, which remains steadfast in its refusal to allow excavation.

Despite repeated legal battles and failed recovery attempts, Howells remains determined to reclaim his fortune. His latest plan? Buying the landfill outright. If successful, this move could give him full control over the land and allow him to dig for the device on his own terms. However, even if he gains access, the biggest question remains: Will the hard drive still work after years of exposure to extreme conditions?

Table of Contents

A Simple Mistake with Monumental Consequences

The hard drive was lost due to a simple mix-up. While clearing out his home, Howells accidentally placed the drive in a trash bag, mistaking it for an old, blank device. That bag was then taken to the Docksway Landfill, where it was buried under thousands of tons of garbage. At the time, Bitcoin was still a niche technology, and Howells didn’t realize the full implications of his mistake.

It wasn’t until the price of Bitcoin surged that Howells grasped the magnitude of his loss. What was once a minor frustration soon became a financial disaster as Bitcoin’s value continued to rise. By 2017, the Bitcoin on the lost hard drive was worth over $100 million, making headlines around the world. By 2021, its value had skyrocketed past $300 million, and today, it’s estimated to be worth nearly $800 million—a fortune that remains tantalizingly out of reach.

Since then, Howells has made numerous attempts to recover the drive, contacting waste management experts and even proposing the use of AI and robotics to locate it with minimal disruption to the landfill. However, even with advanced technology, locating a single hard drive in a massive landfill is like finding a needle in a haystack. Experts estimate that the drive could be buried anywhere between three to five feet underground, mixed with compressed waste from the past decade.

For over a decade, Howells has attempted to gain permission to excavate the landfill, offering millions of dollars to the Newport City Council in return. In 2021, he proposed a $70 million recovery operation, which included advanced scanning technology, robotic excavation, and strict environmental protection measures. His plan involved hiring specialists who could carefully dig through the waste without causing contamination or damage to the surrounding area.

However, the council repeatedly denied his requests, citing several major concerns:

  • Environmental concerns – Digging up a landfill could pose significant ecological risks, including soil and water contamination.

  • Regulatory restrictions – The council’s permit does not allow excavation of waste once it has been buried.

  • Uncertainty of recovery – Even if the hard drive is found, there’s no guarantee it would still function after a decade underground.

Newport City Council has maintained a strict stance, stating that excavating the landfill is simply not an option. They argue that the risks involved far outweigh the potential benefits, particularly since there is no guarantee that the drive will be found. Additionally, officials have pointed out that landfills are carefully managed to prevent hazardous waste exposure, and any major excavation could have unforeseen consequences for the environment and nearby communities.

Despite these setbacks, Howells has refused to back down. He has appealed to legal experts, environmental scientists, and even potential investors who might support his efforts. However, with each rejection from the council, the possibility of ever recovering the lost Bitcoin becomes more unlikely.

A High Court Setback and a New Plan

In January 2025, a British High Court judge dismissed Howells’ case, ruling that the city council was not obligated to let him search the landfill. This legal blow seemingly closed the door on his hopes—until Howells came up with a bold new idea. With no other legal avenues left, he began considering a radical approach: purchasing the landfill outright.

On February 14, 2025, Howells announced that he is now exploring the possibility of buying the entire landfill to gain control over the site. While details about funding remain unclear, he claims to have secured the necessary backing to make an offer. If successful, this plan would allow him to dig for the hard drive without interference from the city council. However, it remains to be seen whether the landfill’s current owners would be willing to sell.

Buying a landfill is no small feat—it involves navigating complex legal, environmental, and logistical challenges. Even if he acquires the land, Howells will need to comply with strict waste management regulations before beginning any excavation. He will also face the enormous cost of sorting through thousands of tons of waste, with no guarantee that the hard drive is still intact.

Experts remain skeptical about this new plan, arguing that the odds of finding a functional hard drive are incredibly slim. However, for Howells, the risk is worth taking—after all, an $800 million fortune may still be waiting for him beneath the trash.

Could the Hard Drive Still Work?

Even if Howells manages to gain access to the landfill, there are serious doubts about whether the hard drive is still functional. The drive has been exposed to extreme environmental conditions, including:

  • Moisture and corrosion – Prolonged exposure to landfill conditions could lead to severe damage to the drive’s internal components.

  • Pressure and weight – The sheer weight of the garbage above it may have crushed or warped the device.

  • Chemical exposure – Landfills contain toxic substances that could have eroded the drive’s circuits and storage platters.

Data recovery specialists have weighed in on the case, with many warning that even if the drive is found, retrieving the data may be impossible. In some cases, specialized forensic tools can recover data from damaged hard drives, but there is no precedent for a successful recovery after years in a landfill.

Despite these risks, Howells remains convinced that state-of-the-art recovery methods could extract data from the damaged drive. He has consulted with leading data recovery firms, some of whom believe that partial recovery might be possible, but the process would be extremely delicate and costly.

Conclusion

James Howells' story is a modern-day tragedy of lost digital wealth. His decade-long battle to reclaim his Bitcoin fortune has been filled with legal struggles, technological challenges, and bureaucratic roadblocks. Despite repeated failures, he refuses to give up, now considering buying the landfill as a last-ditch effort to retrieve the hard drive.

While some admire his determination, others believe he is chasing an impossible dream. The odds of recovering a functional hard drive from a landfill after more than ten years are extremely low. Environmental concerns, legal restrictions, and the physical degradation of the device make success unlikely. However, if he does manage to recover his lost Bitcoin, it would go down as one of the most incredible financial comebacks in history.

For now, the fate of the $800 million treasure buried beneath the trash remains uncertain. Whether Howells eventually succeeds or not, his story serves as a powerful reminder of the risks involved in handling digital assets—and the importance of backing up crucial data.

FAQs

Why won’t the Newport City Council let James Howells search for his hard drive?

The council has repeatedly refused Howells' requests due to environmental concerns, regulatory restrictions, and financial risks. Excavating the landfill could cause contamination, and there is no guarantee the hard drive will be found or in working condition.

What is James Howells’ new plan to recover his lost Bitcoin?

After losing a legal battle in early 2025, Howells announced that he is now considering buying the landfill outright. If successful, this would give him control over the site, allowing him to search for the hard drive without interference.

How much Bitcoin did Howells lose, and what is it worth today?

James Howells lost 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013 when he accidentally threw away his hard drive. At the time, it was worth around $9 million, but today, its value has soared to nearly $800 million due to Bitcoin’s price increases.

Could the hard drive still be recovered after a decade in a landfill?

While recovery is theoretically possible, experts believe the chances are slim. The hard drive has been buried under tons of garbage, exposed to moisture, pressure, and toxic waste. Even if found, data recovery specialists warn that the damage may be irreversible.

That's all for today, see ya tomorrow! If you want more, be sure to follow our X (@croxroadnewsco), Instagram (@croxroadnews.co), Youtube (@thebitcoinlibertarian), Tiktok (@croxroadnews) and nostr - [email protected]

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DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.

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