Towards sustainable resource management: A national assessment of historical mining waste in Poland

Sławomir Mazurek, Katarzyna Derkowska, Anna Januszewska and Cezary Sroga

Resources Policy, 2025, vol. 102, issue C

Abstract: In this study, we present findings from a comprehensive program in Poland aimed at identifying historical mining heaps, sedimentation ponds, and industrial waste dumps. This program is part of a broader initiative that evaluates past and present waste streams to determine their potential as secondary sources of metals, with a special emphasis on critical resources, aligning with Poland's Raw Materials Policy. This article primarily outlines the methodology used to create an inventory, analyze the identified sites, and draw conclusions regarding their suitability for future utilization. We highlight the importance of investigating historical waste heaps and processing related objects in the context of transitioning to a circular economy while also considering environmental constraints. We emphasize the critical aspects of the inventory process that provide essential information and stress the significance of a comprehensive historical waste inventory initiative. Additionally, we suggest a framework for evaluation that can be adapted for use in other regions, aiming to enhance recognition of domestic and regional resources. The aim is to present the methodological process of a wide-range historical mining heaps inventory program as well as its objectives and achievements - for other countries or surveys planned in the future.

Keywords: Circular economy; Mining waste; Geodatabases; Historical mining; Secondary sources; National raw material policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s0301420725000248

DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105482

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