A landfill site in Newport, Wales, where a lost hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin is believed to be buried, is set to close permanently in the 2025-26 financial year. The site has been the focus of a decade-long legal battle between IT worker James Howells and the Newport City Council, as Howells sought permission to search for his lost cryptocurrency.
The UK landfill containing $768M Bitcoin hard drive will soon be capped off, ending Howells’ fight to retrieve his lost digital fortune.
Landfill Site to Shut: Official Announcement
According to BBC News (Feb. 9, 2025), the Docks Way landfill site in Newport will be shut down and capped over the next two years as part of a council-led closure plan.
A Newport council spokesperson confirmed:
“The landfill has been in exploitation since the early 2000s and is coming to the end of its life. The council is working on a planned closure and capping of the site over the next two years.”
The council has already secured planning permission for a solar farm on part of the land, which was approved in August 2024.
While this signals the landfill’s final closure, it also marks the end of Howells’ hopes of recovering the lost Bitcoin.
The $768M Bitcoin Hard Drive: A Costly Mistake
James Howells, a former IT worker from Newport, claimed that his hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, which he mined in 2009, was accidentally discarded in 2013.
At the time, Bitcoin was worth a few hundred dollars, but today, those lost BTC would be valued at approximately $768 million.
Howells repeatedly requested permission from the council to excavate the landfill and use AI-powered technology to locate the hard drive. He even offered the council a share of the recovered Bitcoin if found.
However, in January 2025, a judge dismissed Howells’ case, stating that he had “no realistic prospect” of success in retrieving the Bitcoin.
Despite his persistence, the council consistently denied excavation requests, citing environmental and logistical concerns.
“Excavation is not possible under the council’s environmental permit due to the huge negative environmental impact on the surrounding area,” the council stated in October 2024.
With the landfill now set to officially close, any chance of recovering the lost Bitcoin seems impossible.
Lost Bitcoin: A Growing Issue in Crypto History
Howells’ case is just one of many instances where Bitcoin has been lost forever.
According to Web3 executive Al Leong, up to 13% of Bitcoin’s total supply (around 3 million BTC) is permanently lost due to forgotten passwords, discarded hardware, and inaccessible wallets.
Some experts believe that future technological advancements could provide a way to recover lost Bitcoin. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino suggested that quantum computing may one day be able to hack lost wallets and restore their Bitcoin holdings.
However, such advancements are still far from reality, and for now, the UK landfill containing $768M Bitcoin hard drive is set to be buried forever.
Conclusion
The closure of the Newport landfill marks the final chapter in James Howells’ decade-long fight to recover his lost Bitcoin. Despite legal battles, advanced technology proposals, and financial incentives, his 8,000 BTC remains unrecoverable.
As the landfill is capped and transformed into a solar farm, it will serve as a symbol of the irreversible nature of lost Bitcoin—a harsh lesson for early crypto adopters.
With millions of BTC permanently lost, the importance of securing private keys and storage devices cannot be overstated. Keep following Deythere and keep an eye on Lost Hard drive legal battle.
FAQs
Why is the UK landfill containing $768M Bitcoin hard drive closing?
The Docks Way landfill site in Newport, Wales, is closing as it has reached the end of its operational life. The council has approved a solar farm project for part of the land.
Who is James Howells, and why is he in the news?
James Howells is an IT worker from Newport, Wales, who accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013. He has been fighting for over a decade to excavate the landfill and retrieve his lost cryptocurrency.
Why did the Newport Council deny excavation requests?
The council cited environmental concerns and stated that the excavation was not permitted under their environmental license due to its potential negative impact on the surrounding area.
How much is the lost Bitcoin worth today?
Based on current Bitcoin prices, the 8,000 BTC on Howells’ hard drive would be worth around $768 million.
Is there any hope of recovering lost Bitcoin in the future?
Some experts believe quantum computing may one day be able to crack lost wallets, but such technology is still far from being practical.
Glossary of Key Terms
Bitcoin (BTC) – A decentralized digital currency that operates on blockchain technology.
Blockchain – A distributed ledger that records cryptocurrency transactions.
Quantum Computing – A futuristic form of computing that could potentially break cryptographic security.
Environmental Permit – A legal authorization that governs the environmental impact of industrial activities, including landfill operations.
References
- BBC News – Newport landfill site closure plans
- The Guardian – Man who lost bitcoin fortune in Welsh tip explores purchase of entire landfill
- The Guardian – Judge halts attempt to retrieve £600m bitcoin wallet from Welsh dump
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