Landfill mining: Case study of a successful metals recovery project

Wagner, Travis P.; Raymond, T. M.

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2015.06.034

Cited by 87 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Overall, four different approaches for enhancing the marketability of deposited waste can be identified. To obtain marketable materials from large-scale operations, dilution has been a common method (Hull et al, 2005;Wagner and Raymond, 2015). Since the sorting methods applied in landfill mining operations have typically been developed to process fresh waste rather than disposed waste, the sorting process has therefore in some cases been supplemented by either pre-treatment processes (EPA, 1997;Rosendal, 2015), or process modification and after-treatment processes to enhance the quality of the sorted waste (Schachermayer et al, 2000;Allegrini et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new dawn for buried garbage? An investigation of the marketability of previously disposed shredder waste

2017

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This paper examines the market potential of disposed shredder waste, a resource that is increasingly emphasized as a future mine. A framework with gate requirements of various outlets was developed and contrasted with a pilot project focusing on excavated waste from a shredder landfill, sorted in an advanced recycling facility. Only the smallest fraction by percentage had an outlet, the metals (8%), which were sold according to a lower quality class. The other fractions (92%) were not accepted for incineration, as construction materials or even for re-deposition. Previous studies have shown similar lack of marketability. This means that even if one fraction can be recovered, the outlet of the other material is often unpredictable, resulting in a waste disposal problem, which easily prevents a landfill mining project altogether. This calls for marketability and usability of deposited waste to become a central issue for landfill mining research. The paper concludes by discussing how concerned actors can enhance the marketability, for example by pre-treating the disposed waste to acclimatize it to existing sorting methods. However, for concerned actors to become interested in approaching unconventional resources such as deposited waste, greater regulatory flexibility is needed in which, for example, re-deposition could be allowed as long as the environmental benefits of the projects outweigh the disadvantages.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new dawn for buried garbage? An investigation of the marketability of previously disposed shredder waste

2017

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“…Such approaches include: substituting metals in short supply, such as rare earths, for more abundant minerals with similar properties (United States Department of Energy, 2010; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2012); landfill mining (Wagner and Raymond, 2015); and collection and recycling of components from products at the end of their life-cycle. Other novel options include the potential to recover lithium and other rare metals from seawater (Hoshino, 2015).…”

Section: Alternatives Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Seabed Mining Including the Current State of Development, Environmental Impacts, and Knowledge Gaps

et al. 2018

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Rising demand for minerals and metals, including for use in the technology sector, has led to a resurgence of interest in exploration of mineral resources located on the seabed. Such resources, whether seafloor massive (polymetallic) sulfides around hydrothermal vents, cobalt-rich crusts (CRCs) on the flanks of seamounts or fields of manganese (polymetallic) nodules on the abyssal plains, cannot be considered in isolation of the distinctive, in some cases unique, assemblages of marine species associated with the same habitats and structures. In addition to mineral deposits, there is interest in extracting methane from gas hydrates on continental slopes and rises. Many of the regions identified for future seabed mining are already recognized as vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Since its inception in 1982, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), charged with regulating human activities on the deep-sea floor beyond the continental shelf, has issued 27 contracts for mineral exploration, encompassing a combined area of more than 1.4 million km 2 , and continues to develop rules for commercial mining. At the same time, some seabed mining operations are already taking place within continental shelf areas of nation states, generally at relatively shallow depths, and with others at advanced stages of planning. The first commercial enterprise, expected to target mineral-rich sulfides in deeper waters, at depths between 1,500 and 2,000 m on the continental shelf of Papua New Guinea, is scheduled to begin early in 2019. In this review, we explore three broad aspects relating to the exploration and exploitation of seabed mineral resources: (1) the current state of development of such activities in areas both within and beyond national jurisdictions, (2) possible environmental impacts both close to and more distant from mining activities and (3) the uncertainties and gaps in scientific knowledge and understanding which render baseline and impact assessments particularly difficult for the deep sea. We also consider whether there are alternative approaches to the management of existing mineral reserves and resources, which may reduce incentives for seabed mining.

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“…Scientific challenges: From a practical perspective, scientific or technical challenges are mainly related to the performance of the bioprocess used, such as process stability, longevity of bioreactor operation, its efficiency in handling wastewater containing a broad range of metals and other pollutants (example: AMD, metal processing waste discharges, landfill leachate), downstream processing to improve the metal recovery efficiency and the activity of the microorganisms [6,7].…”

Section: Opinion On Technological Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioprecipitation - A Promising Technique for Heavy Metal Removal and Recovery from Contaminated Wastewater Streams

Wong

Rene

2017

MOJCE

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With balanced industrial and infrastructural growth and stability in many developing countries, metal reserves are fast depleting and some of the metals are predicted to be exhausted in a few decade. Metal recovery from waste (liquid) streams, for example -acid mine drainage, is one classical option to achieve sustainable resource utilization. Bioprecipitation is a novel approach to recover metals with the help of biologically produced sulfide in suitable bioreactor configurations. Using this technique, stable metal precipitates are formed, which can be subsequently recovered for further industrial use.

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Landfill mining: Case study of a successful metals recovery project

Cited by 87 publications

References 26 publications

A new dawn for buried garbage? An investigation of the marketability of previously disposed shredder waste

A new dawn for buried garbage? An investigation of the marketability of previously disposed shredder waste

An Overview of Seabed Mining Including the Current State of Development, Environmental Impacts, and Knowledge Gaps

Bioprecipitation - A Promising Technique for Heavy Metal Removal and Recovery from Contaminated Wastewater Streams

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