Track: Waste Management
Abstract
The mining sector is one of the key economic drivers in Southern Africa. However, due to mining and minerals processing activities, huge amounts of waste are generated that have potential negative impacts to the environment. Various wastes such as wastewater, particulate gases, overburden, waste rocks, tailings and slag are generated during the value addition of the ores. Although there is potential for metal recovery and wastewater re-use from this waste generated it is critical that before a mining activity is done, an environmental impact assessment be done for sustainable mining activities.