Objective: To assess the industrial waste resource potential in the districts of ore mining and processing enterprises (GOK) of the Southern Urals. Methods: Chemical analysis of samples of water and soil was conducted. Results: The samples of slag were collected and analyzed near an old copper plant in Sibay, the samples taken from stock piles and tailing dumps of Uchalynskiy, Gaiskiy and Burybayevskiy ore mining and processing enterprises. It was established that mineral separation plants’ waste contain 0,3-0,4% of zinc, 0,2-0,3% of copper, 20-35% of sulfur, and more than 35% of iron. The analysis of water samples taken from an old open pit and soil collected in the district of copper pyrite deposit Kul Yurt Tau indicated high content of S, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb etc. in total dry solids of water samples after after boiling down, high concentration of the above mentioned elements were detected, the latter indicated severe contamination of soil and water in the deposit’s area. Practical importance: The recycling of old GOK waste might be the solution to the existing problem, taking into account the fact, that at present deep-seated deposits of copper and zinc are exploited with a high level of economic costs. The tailing dumps of the Urals’ enterprises considerably excel many other deposits in total reserves. With technological development of beneficiation, waste may undergo recycling with the extraction of useful mining elements, while the remaining rock may be applied in the production of construction materials or returned to the places of ore mining. Moreover, the utilization of raw materials’ extraction and processing waste (on an industrial scale) will provide ecological rehabilitation of territories exposed to negative impact of facilities used for economic activities.