Waste management costs (WMC) of mining companies in Turkey: Can waste recovery help meeting these costs?

Humankind is in need of mines throughout its entire life. As a result of mine production obtained for this need, mining wastes emerge. Mining waste management is reflected in mining enterprises as a cost item. It would be useful to determine how much share these costs have in mining operating costs (OC). At the same time, considering that the ratio of land use costs to mining investment amounts (MIA) in Turkey is very high, mining investment risks should be reduced. In order to bring forward solutions for the WMC and its regulation, in May, June and July of 2018, a survey was conducted to mining corporations via the survey software called “Survey Monkey”. The cost of wastes of each mining enterprise is proportionate to the yearly average OC of these mining companies. The results that come out when the ratio of the costs of mining waste management to the estimated investment costs as well, changing based on the different mineral groups, show that the mining WMC take a noticeably high place among the mining investments and OC in Turkey. Despite the environmental expenses made by mining companies in Turkey, the recovery of waste still lacks. In this regard, necessary arrangements should be made in the legislation, and the recovery of waste should be promoted despite the expenditure of the miner, and the return of the cost of the mining investor should be provided. •According to the mineral groups in Turkey, how much a share in the operating costs of the average waste cost is calculated.•It has been determined which factors play a role in changes in this share according to different mineral groups.•To not be created investment risk, in terms of mining enterprises in Turkey learned how waste classification should be in Regulations.•In this respect, legislative proposals have been made in line with the importance of the recovery of mining wastes.