Overview of Polish Mining Wastes with Circular Economy Model and Its Comparison with Other Wastes

Justyna Woźniak and Katarzyna Pactwa
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Justyna Woźniak: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Industrial and GeoEconomics Division, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Na Grobli 15, 50-421 Wroclaw, Poland
Katarzyna Pactwa: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Industrial and GeoEconomics Division, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Na Grobli 15, 50-421 Wroclaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: This article discusses the main issues associated with waste from mining activity, which is the largest group of combined waste in Poland. A series of domestic and foreign solutions (practical and laboratory solutions) were indicated here, aimed at the management of waste in accordance with the tendency of circular economy (CE). In connection with the legislative changes, there is a need to resign from storage of the waste that is recyclable. The authors indicate mining waste as a potential for further studies, searching for solutions in regard to the use of waste as a raw material for sustainable, secondary use/reuse. Based on EUROSTAT data, the types of waste from mining and quarrying were grouped and the juxtaposition of all waste generated in Poland was implemented in the context of selected European economies. It was indicated which types of waste can be identified for reuse and management in accordance with CE. Rational management of mineral raw materials and therefore, maintaining of the level of extraction of domestic natural resources will contribute to maintaining not only energy independence, but also the leading position of Polish mining in the international aspect in the scope of extraction of metallic and rock raw materials. Mining waste can be and is reused in accordance with the concept of CE, which was showed through the example of domestic industry enterprises and their business models.

Keywords: circular economy; mining waste; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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