James Howells, a 39-year-old engineer from Newport, South Wales, is on a relentless quest to recover a hard drive he accidentally disposed of back in 2013. This hard drive contains 8,000 bitcoins, which today are valued at more than £600 million.
Over the past decade, Howells has navigated complex legal challenges and logistical hurdles, all while racing against a deadline as the local authorities prepare to shut down the landfill suspected to hold his valuable data storage. Refusing to give up, he is now planning to acquire ownership of the landfill itself to continue his recovery efforts.
From an Overlooked Disk to a Digital Fortune
The story began with a routine office cleanup in 2013, when Howells unintentionally discarded an old hard drive containing bitcoins. At that time, the cryptocurrency was worth only a small fraction of its current value.
As of 2024, the 8,000 bitcoins are worth hundreds of millions, making this one of the most valuable lost digital assets ever. However, the hard drive lies buried beneath approximately 1.4 million tonnes of material in Newport’s Docks Way landfill.
Determined, Howells has devoted years to formulating a detailed recovery plan. He has put together a team including data recovery experts, engineers, and incorporated AI technology to assist with sorting the landfill waste.
Clashes with Newport City Council
Though the physical challenge is immense, Howells’ biggest barrier has been legal opposition from Newport City Council. The council has consistently refused excavation permits, citing concerns about environmental impacts, expenses, and potential disturbances to local residents.
Howells has responded with carefully designed proposals aiming to minimize environmental risks and even offered financial incentives. Nevertheless, a High Court ruling in January 2025 dismissed his case, deeming the likelihood of success too low to warrant the disruption.
Undaunted by the setback, Howells has shifted his focus toward a more daring path—which involves buying the landfill.
Landfill Acquisition: A Bold New Plan
Following legal defeat, Howells is currently engaging potential investors to explore the purchase of the Docks Way landfill. Owning the land would give him the authority to initiate excavation operations independently.
He declared, “If Newport City Council is open to it, I would consider buying the site ‘as is,’” underscoring his determination to continue the search on his terms.
This urgency is heightened by the council’s recent announcement to permanently close the landfill in 2025, with plans to convert part of the area into a solar energy farm.
A Race Against the Landfill’s Closure
The plan to close and repurpose the landfill intensifies the urgency of Howells’ undertaking. While the council argues that redevelopment will benefit the community, Howells regards their sudden timeline acceleration as contradictory.
He remarked, “They previously told the High Court that early closure would negatively impact residents, yet now they’re expediting it,” highlighting the predicament.
With time running out, Howells continues to push forward vigorously, aware that the valuable hard drive could be irretrievably lost once the landfill is transformed.
This article has been republished from tronweekly. Note: This article has been edited for length and content.
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