British Man Sues Council for $647M Over Lost Bitcoin in Landfill

James Howells, an IT engineer from Newport, Wales, has launched a legal battle against Newport City Council, seeking 495 million British pounds ($647 million) in damages after the council blocked his efforts to excavate a landfill site where he believes a lost hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC) is buried.

A Decade-Long Quest to Recover Lost Bitcoin

Howells accidentally discarded the hard drive in 2013 during a household cleanup, unknowingly throwing away a fortune. At the time, the 8,000 BTC was worth about 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) but the value has since skyrocketed to nearly half a billion pounds. Over the past decade, Howells has repeatedly petitioned Newport City Council for permission to search the landfill, but his requests have been denied.

Council Cites Environmental Risks in Refusal

Despite Howells offering to give the council 10% of the Bitcoin’s value if recovered, the council remains firm in rejecting the excavation plan, citing environmental concerns. The landfill has been flagged for issues including elevated levels of asbestos, arsenic, and methane, leading the council to argue that excavation could harm the environment. Officials claim the site is managed under strict monitoring protocols and have consistently opposed any digging attempts.

The Ongoing Legal Battle

In December 2024, Howells’ legal claim against Newport City Council will be heard in court. He has assembled a team of legal experts to support his case, arguing that his excavation plan is environmentally safe and poses no cost to the council.

In 2022, Howells reportedly proposed a recovery strategy involving $11 million in private funding to search through 110,000 tonnes of garbage in pursuit of the hard drive. However, Newport City Council continues to question the feasibility and legality of Howells’ efforts.

Lessons in Bitcoin Security

Howells’ story highlights the importance of secure Bitcoin storage. To avoid similar incidents, users should store hardware wallets safely, keep private keys offline, and back up recovery phrases across multiple secure locations to ensure maximum protection.