| Title | The “Finding value in mining wastes” standard will outline a framework for systematically determining the economic value of different types and forms of residual materials from mining operations. This would include the value of residual minerals and elements. It is expected that this standard will consider materials generated over the life cycle of a mine and include historic, current and future mines.
1.0 Most relevant Sustainable Development Goals
SDG: 8 Decent work and economic growth, 9 Industry innovation and infrastructure, 10 Reduced inequality, 12 Responsible consumption and production, 13 Climate action, 14 Life below water, and 15 Life on land.
2.0 Material types and characterisation
General principles (e.g. waste versus resource), characterising major material types and keeping records.
3.0 Evaluating principles and approaches
The value of minerals content versus the value of other materials, the value of minerals and materials versus the value of land, mixed versus segregated material streams (e.g. comparing grade, value, impurities, etc. per tonne of material), present value versus future value and opportunities, materials characterisation and recoverability, processing options and available infrastructure, and maintaining highest resource value at all times.
4.0 Evaluation methodology
Inventory of materials, characterisation of material streams and sub-streams, waste management approach and objectives, discarded materials as a potential future asset, and operational requirements and efficiency.
5.0 Inclusion in sustainable supply chains
Exploration and mine design, changes and developments over the life of mine, integrating recovery with mine rehabilitation and closure, re-commercialisation, including land reuse, and a pathway to a circular economy.
This standard would allow for a systematic assessment of a discarded materials value considering both their potential for use as part of the mining operation or value external to this. This assessment should reduce the unintended loss of material value within the processing and waste management operations, leading to capturing the highest economic value and/or optimizing the economic value while achieving the best environmental outcome.
Excluded: Environmental and social aspects of mine closure which are addressed by separate standards.
Stakeholders for this standard include but are not limited to the following:
• Governments at different levels (local, regional, state, national)
• Mining companies
• Professionals, including in the mining and research and development industries
• Communities, including NGOs |
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| Scope | The “Finding value in mining wastes” standard will outline a framework for systematically determining the economic value of different types and forms of residual materials from mining operations. This would include the value of residual minerals and elements. It is expected that this standard will consider materials generated over the life cycle of a mine and include historic, current and future mines.
1.0 Most relevant Sustainable Development Goals
SDG: 8 Decent work and economic growth, 9 Industry innovation and infrastructure, 10 Reduced inequality, 12 Responsible consumption and production, 13 Climate action, 14 Life below water, and 15 Life on land.
2.0 Material types and characterisation
General principles (e.g. waste versus resource), characterising major material types and keeping records.
3.0 Evaluating principles and approaches
The value of minerals content versus the value of other materials, the value of minerals and materials versus the value of land, mixed versus segregated material streams (e.g. comparing grade, value, impurities, etc. per tonne of material), present value versus future value and opportunities, materials characterisation and recoverability, processing options and available infrastructure, and maintaining highest resource value at all times.
4.0 Evaluation methodology
Inventory of materials, characterisation of material streams and sub-streams, waste management approach and objectives, discarded materials as a potential future asset, and operational requirements and efficiency.
5.0 Inclusion in sustainable supply chains
Exploration and mine design, changes and developments over the life of mine, integrating recovery with mine rehabilitation and closure, re-commercialisation, including land reuse, and a pathway to a circular economy.
This standard would allow for a systematic assessment of a discarded materials value considering both their potential for use as part of the mining operation or value external to this. This assessment should reduce the unintended loss of material value within the processing and waste management operations, leading to capturing the highest economic value and/or optimizing the economic value while achieving the best environmental outcome.
Excluded: Environmental and social aspects of mine closure which are addressed by separate standards.
Stakeholders for this standard include but are not limited to the following:
• Governments at different levels (local, regional, state, national)
• Mining companies
• Professionals, including in the mining and research and development industries
• Communities, including NGOs |
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