Mine waste reprocessing

Mining produces large volumes of waste rock that must be managed long term, well beyond the ‘life of mine’. Such waste may contain valuable metals or other materials. Extracting products of value from mine waste can have multiple benefits including maximising economic value from disturbed sites, enhancing circularity in the economy, reducing the demand for greenfield development and providing the opportunity to improve the environmental management of the subsequent waste streams. The Office of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner has undertaken work to describe the benefits of mine waste reprocessing.