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Journal of Heavy Metal Research
Quarterly Publication

A Review of Circular Economy Strategies for Mining Waste in India: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Role of Digitalization

https://doi.org/10.22034/jhmr.2026.561459.1009
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Spring 2026
Pages 10-19
Journal of Heavy Metal Research

Document Type : Review

Authors

Raghavendra Deshmukh 1
Meera Chandrakant Joshi 2
Suhas Venkataraman 3
Tanushree Pillai 4
Arvind Narayanan Iyer 4

1 Centre for Earth Materials and Sustainable Mining, Pune Institute of Geo-Environmental Research, Pune, India

2 2 Department of Mineral Processing and Resource Engineering, Eastern Himalayan University of Technology, Guwahati, India

3 Department of Mineral Processing and Resource Engineering, Eastern Himalayan University of Technology, Guwahati, India

4 School of Environmental Geosciences, South Coast Institute of Science and Innovation, Chennai, India

Abstract
India’s rapidly expanding economy relies heavily on the mining sector to supply raw materials for energy production, infrastructure development, and industrial growth. However, mining activities generate vast quantities of waste, including overburden, waste rock, and tailings, which pose serious environmental and social challenges. These wastes may release toxic elements and contribute to land degradation, water contamination, and long-term ecological risks. This review examines how circular economy principles can be applied to mining waste management in India to transform waste streams into valuable resources while minimizing environmental impacts. The study evaluates several strategic approaches, including waste minimization at the source, reprocessing of historical tailings to recover residual metals, and upcycling of mineral waste into construction materials such as bricks, blocks, ceramics, and geopolymer binders. The paper also discusses the environmental implications of heavy metal contamination associated with mining waste, highlighting the risks posed by elements such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium in mining regions. In addition, emerging technologies such as digital monitoring systems, advanced mineral processing techniques, and artificial intelligence–based resource management are reviewed as tools that may support more sustainable mining practices. The results indicate that integrating circular economy strategies into India’s mining sector could significantly reduce waste volumes, recover valuable metals, and support more sustainable resource utilization. These approaches provide both environmental and economic benefits and represent an important pathway toward responsible mineral resource management.

Keywords

Circular Economy
Mining Waste
Tailings
Waste Valorization
India
Environmental Policy
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 22 November 2025
  • Revise Date 25 April 2026
  • Accept Date 04 May 2026
  • Publish Date 01 May 2026

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