No abstract

Tehran, 2 Department of Environmental Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, 3 Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Tehran, *Corresponding author e-mail: rezaarjmandi@yahoo.com; tel: +98-9-123-274-632 Abstract. Population growth has prompted governments to encourage industrial development in order to improve the welfare of their citizens. This process increases the deposition of human and industrial waste in the environment. The consequences of this have produced a serious need to implement appropriate management strategies in order to reduce and control the effect of the accumulation of such waste. The current study was undertaken to compile information about the status of iron ore waste produced by the Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex in Sirjan, Iran, in 2015 by observation, field visits, interviews with officials and experts of the unit and the use of questionnaires and technical documentation. The industrial waste was classified using UNEP guidelines and guidelines for proper management of waste have been presented. The results of data analysis regarding the quantity and quality of mining and industrial waste of Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex sho wed that about 24 million tons of solid industrial waste is produced annually. A large percentage comprises hazardous waste according to UNEP classifications and include rock and soil tailings from processing, dry and wet tailings. These are classified into group E as high volume and low-risk waste and in group A as mining waste containing heavy metals. The presence of heavy metals increases the importance of controlling and managing this waste.