THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE | VOLUME 2 | 2020
WASTE MANAGEMENT
FROM LANDFILL TO revenue-generating resource There’s no doubt that our future depends on the success of the mining industry; however, what is equally clear is that mining in its traditional form is unsustainable. It must become safer, more efficient, more harmonised with the needs of host communities, and with a smaller environmental footprint. By Hermanus Prinsloo and Dustin van Helsdingen*
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lobally, the mining industry’s journey towards sustainability has been gathering pace over the past decade as it shapes a future in which mining operations will have a radically different footprint. Mining companies are increasingly investigating and deploying technologies that reduce harm to the environment, improve efficiency and move people out of harm’s way. The future is focused on the circular economy (or closed-loop systems), which aims to diminish over-consumption and eliminate waste by making the most of resources through reuse and recycling. This means the use of resources is designed from the start for reuse. The consumer becomes the user! The industry is working to build mines that will ultimately be waterless and carbon-neutral, using less energy and eliminating residue stockpiles. They are actively reducing their waste footprint as part of a broader sustainability strategy and a move towards a circular economy. Back in 2013, Anglo American Platinum set its ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ (known as ZW2L) target. It reflected a realisation that, with the world’s population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, we cannot continue to consume
Effluent dams are among the waste contributors in the mining industry (Credit: Precious Metals Refinery)
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