James Howells Plans to Buy the Garbage Dump
In a tale that sounds like it was ripped straight from the “Oops, I Did It Again” playbook, James Howells, the man who accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 7,500 bitcoins (worth around $800 million today), is now trying to buy the landfill where his digital treasure lies buried.
Yes, you read that right: instead of waiting for permission to dig up the trash heap, he’s decided to just own the whole thing.
A Dumpster Dive Worth Millions
Howells’ infamous story began back in 2013 when, during a spring-cleaning frenzy, he mistakenly tossed an old laptop hard drive into the garbage. At the time, those bitcoins were worth about £4 ($5 USD).
Fast forward nearly a decade, and they’re now valued at roughly $110,000 each—making that dusty old hard drive one of the most expensive pieces of e-waste on the planet.
But here’s the kicker: the hard drive is sitting somewhere beneath thousands of tons of garbage at the Newport landfill site in South Wales.
And because landfills aren’t exactly designed with future treasure hunts in mind, retrieving it would require sifting through mountains of rotting waste—a task so daunting that local authorities have repeatedly denied his requests to excavate.
So what does any determined crypto-millionaire do when faced with bureaucratic red tape? He tries to buy the entire landfill, of course!
From Trash Talk to Business Plans
Howells has reportedly been in talks to purchase the landfill outright, turning what was once a municipal dumping ground into his personal archaeological dig.
His plan? Use advanced sorting technology to sift through the rubbish without creating an environmental disaster. Think less “Indiana Jones” and more “Wall-E,” but with a much higher stakes MacGuffin.
The proposal includes hiring a team of experts, employing cutting-edge AI-powered machinery, and implementing eco-friendly practices to minimize disruption.
According to Howells, this wouldn’t just be about finding his lost fortune—it could also set a precedent for sustainable landfill recovery projects worldwide. Who knew dumpster diving could be both lucrative and environmentally conscious?
The Hurdles Standing Between Him and Riches
Of course, buying a landfill isn’t as simple as swiping your credit card at checkout. For starters, there’s the small matter of convincing local officials that digging up years’ worth of garbage is a good idea. Then there’s the cost—not just financially, but environmentally.
Landfills are notorious methane producers, and disturbing them can release harmful gases into the atmosphere. Plus, let’s not forget the logistical nightmare of combing through decades of debris in search of something no bigger than a smartphone.
Despite these challenges, Howells remains undeterred. “I’ve spent years thinking about this,” he told reporters. “If I can turn this situation around, not only will I recover my assets, but I’ll also create a model for how we handle waste management moving forward.”
Public Reaction: Sympathy or Schadenfreude?
As you might imagine, reactions to Howells’ plight are mixed. On one hand, there’s sympathy for the guy who made an honest mistake—and hey, if anyone deserves a second chance, it’s someone willing to shell out millions to fix it.
On the other hand, there’s plenty of schadenfreude-fueled commentary online:
“Maybe next time he’ll triple-check before tossing out his electronics.”
“At least he knows exactly where his money went… unlike the rest of us.”
And then there’s the inevitable Bitcoin bros chiming in with hot takes like, “This is why crypto is the future! Physical cash doesn’t get lost in landfills!”
What Happens Next?
Whether Howells succeeds in his quest remains to be seen. If he pulls it off, it’ll go down as one of the greatest comeback stories of all time—a modern-day rags-to-riches tale, albeit one involving literal rags and riches.
But even if he fails, his story serves as a cautionary reminder to always double-check your trash before taking out the bins.
One thing’s for sure: if Howells ever finds that hard drive, he probably won’t be storing it under his mattress anytime soon.
Leave a Reply