Aiman El Machi

The mining industry generates a substantial amount of waste materials, including tailings and waste rocks, which, if not managed correctly, pose threats to the environment and public health due to their long-term accumulation and disposal. Simultaneously, the construction sector consumes important amounts of natural resources like water and rocks. However, research shows that inert mining waste can serve as a substitute for conventional raw materials in construction, particularly in concrete. This review focuses on using mining waste as an alternative to concrete technology to promote cleaner practices in construction and circular economy in mining. Mining waste, with its physical characteristics and chemical composition, can function as diverse components in concrete, such as sand, aggregates, and binders. This article assesses these properties and explores their incorporation into concrete production, aiming to stimulate further research and development, foster environmentally responsible approaches, and underline the direct link to reaching SDGs to achieve sustainability in the construction industry.

The mining sector is the largest solid waste producer in the world. Mining, mineral processing, and metallurgical activities generate more than 100 billion tons of waste per year in several forms. However, the current management of mine waste is still based on a linear system through its storage and landfilling. At the same time, growth of urbanization and industrialization induces the consumption of natural resources for building engineering in many countries. In this regard, the high demand for raw materials in the construction industry is becoming a worldwide issue. In order to tackle those challenges presented by the mining sector and the depletion of natural resources, innovative concepts are being developed. The circular economy concept is very beneficial, where mine waste can be considered as new raw materials for other applications, which will contribute not only to the reduction of natural resource consumption but also to the reduction of CO₂ emissions. This chapter sheds light on the implementation of the circular economy concept with regard to the impact toward sustainable development goals, supported by examples of actual experiences around the world. Moreover, the importance of technical advances and the legislative aspect is discussed in order to underline its contribution to sustainable development.