Valorisation of Waste
Mine waste requires effective management in order to prevent long-term contamination of air, soil and water, and to safeguard human lives. Dangerous practices of mine waste management have always been scrutinized and in many cases, heavily penalized by authorities. However, in many cases, the scrutiny has been inadequate, untimely and insensitive to the local and international political environment. In such instances, human and environmental consequences can be disastrous.
Waste Market Size
The global mine waste management market is expected to reach $350.01 billion (USD) by 2026, having grown at a cumulative annualized growth rate of 8.1% from 2018 to 2026.
Waste Volumes
Waste generated due to mining activity poses a serious issue due to the large amounts generated, up to 65 billion tons per year, and the risks associated with its storage and environmental management.
Waste Types
The most prominent types of waste, in terms of volume, include: 1) waste rock, 2) tailings, and 3) mine waste water (Table 1). The production of mine tailings during mineral extraction is practically unavoidable, with the rare exception of in-situ mining that does not leave any visible tailings.