Metal Mining Waste Management Trend
The following graph shows the quantities of TRI chemical waste managed by the metal mining industry from 2012 to 2021, mainly in the form of on-site land disposal. The nature of metal mining operations limits the feasibility of other methods of waste management. For more details on quantities released, toggle to the “Releases Only” graph.
Note: For comparability, trend graphs include only those chemicals that were reportable to TRI for all years presented.
From 2012 to 2021:
- The quantity of waste managed by the metal mining sector fluctuated year to year and does not closely follow the sector’s production (as reported by the United States Geological Survey).
- Mining facilities often cite changes in the chemical composition of the ore they extract as one reason for annual fluctuations in the quantities of waste they manage. In some cases, small changes in the ore’s composition can impact whether TRI chemicals in ore qualify for a concentration-based TRI reporting exemption in one year but not in the next year or vice versa.
From 2020 to 2021:
- The quantity of TRI chemical waste managed by this sector increased by 67 million pounds (5%).
- During 2021, 96% of the metal mining sector’s production-related waste was disposed of or otherwise released. Most of this waste consisted of metals, which were primarily disposed of to land on site at the mine.
The following graph shows the 10-year trend in quantities of TRI chemicals released by the metal mining industry, primarily through on-site land disposal.
Note: For comparability, trend graphs include only those chemicals that were reportable to TRI for all years presented.
From 2012 to 2021:
- More than 99% of the metal mining sector’s releases of TRI chemicals were on site and to land. Quantities of on-site land disposal by metal mines have fluctuated from year to year.
- Facilities have the option to indicate whether reported land releases represent disposal of TRI chemicals in waste rock piles. For 2021, waste rock piles accounted for at least 44% of the on-site land disposal of TRI chemicals at metal mines.
- The quantity of TRI chemicals released alone is not an indicator of health risks posed by the chemicals, as described in the Potential Risks from TRI Chemicals section. For more information, see the TRI document, Factors to Consider When Using Toxics Release Inventory Data.
In 2021:
- Among the sectors reporting to TRI, the metal mining sector reported the largest quantity of waste disposed of or otherwise released, accounting for 44% of total TRI releases and 68% of on-site land disposal for all industries.
- The chemicals released in the greatest quantities by metal mines were zinc, lead, and arsenic compounds.
Source Reduction in the Metal Mining Sector
Unlike manufacturing, the nature of mining—the necessary movement and disposal of large volumes of rock to access the target ore—does not lend itself to source reduction. To find examples of metal mining source reduction activities and the source reduction barriers mining facilities face, visit the TRI P2 Search Tool.
EPA's Smart Sectors Program is partnering with the mining sector to develop sensible approaches to better protect the environment and public health.
This page was published in March 2023 and uses the 2021 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2022.