Improvement of the legal, research and methodological basis for handling and management of mining wastes

The issue of involving mining wastes into commercial activities is quite serious, complicated and requires special attention to be paid both by the state and supervisory authorities and the subsoil users. Its solution should be considered systematically taking into account all the interacting and influencing factors arising when considering mining waste as one of the main resources in terms of studying the possibilities of its commercial use. One of the factors that make it difficult to involve mining wastes into commercial activities with assessment of their possible efficient utilization is the discrepancy in the conceptual framework of waste management and handling. The study justifies the need to eliminate different interpretations in terms of the key terminology with addition and refinement of the definitions of the main terms through creation of a unified conceptual framework for mining waste management. Systematization, accounting and assessment of the potential for industrial use of man-made mineral resources should be supported by the legal framework of the state regulation in subsoil use. The solution to the issue with different interpretation of the same concepts, either approved or missing in the legislation, which restrains the involvement of wastes into efficient utilization, should be provided by introducing a common terminology, as well as harmonization with the international practices of waste management, which will be used in designing various regulatory and legislative documents.