Mineral and non mineral waste
The disposal of waste has environmental and social implications including land disturbance, emissions to the environment and contamination of soil and groundwater. Rio Tinto generates mineral and non mineral wastes during mineral extraction.
Mineral wastes are the mined rock that contains no economic ore; tailings, which are the fine sand-like residue after the mineral has been extracted from the rock; and slag, the solid residue from the smelting process. Most of Rio Tinto's mineral wastes are disposed of on site. They are either put back into the pit or underground workings from which they were originally extracted, placed and reshaped/revegetated in adjacent areas (in engineered stockpiles and rock dumps) or placed in engineered structures, such as dams.
The generation of mineral wastes is directly related to ore type, economic grade and the type of mine. For example, underground mines remove less waste rock than open cut mines.
Non mineral waste primarily consists of auxiliary materials that support mining and mineral processing, such as oils, tyres, batteries, refractory lining, and domestic rubbish. Non mineral waste may or may not be hazardous. The management of non mineral waste includes re-use, recycling, incineration, storage or disposal in landfill.
Efficiency targets for non mineral wastes have been a focus of many Rio Tinto businesses to date, including reducing, reusing and recycling wastes.
The objectives of our management of waste are to:
- Ensure the physical, chemical and biological safety of disposal facilities and sites.
- Minimise the footprint of mineral waste disposal.
- Reduce, re-use and recycle non mineral waste.
- Eliminate hazardous waste to the greatest extent possible.
How we manage wastes
Mineral wastes
Non mineral wastes
Other related topics:
Waste management results
Back to top