Involving small and medium-sized mining industry businesses in mining waste processing in the Russian Federation

Processing of mining waste can be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Smaller mining waste stocks containing valuable components, such as non-ferrous metals (anthropogenic mineral resources), may be of interest to small- and medium-sized businesses. However, anthropogenic waste processing projects are rare in the Murmansk Region, Russia, despite the huge accumulated waste stocks. This study shows that the statutory requirements that currently apply in Russia to the development of anthropogenic mineral resources are excessively stringent. The existing regulatory framework prevents small- and medium-sized businesses from implementing mining waste processing projects, since the required procedures are costly and take time to complete. Time is a critical resource for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which generally undertake investment projects only during periods of high commodity prices. In addition, the grade of the mining waste and its process properties deteriorate with time.