Collection Overview 

Scientific Reports has launched a Guest-Edited Collection on Waste management in mining.

Waste management focuses on the safe handling, reduction, and valorization of byproducts generated during mineral extraction and processing. Integrating waste treatment with environmental geochemistry and sustainable engineering approaches helps mitigate long-term impacts such as soil contamination, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond meeting legal and environmental requirements, effective waste management strategies play a critical role in improving productivity, reducing operating costs, and minimizing ecological risks associated with tailings, slags, and other mining residues.

This will be a Collection of original research papers  and will be open for submissions from all authors – on the condition that the manuscripts fall within the scope of the Collection and of Scientific Reports more generally. Narrative review articles are also welcomed, to our sister journal Scientific Reviews. We are welcoming submissions until 10th November 2026.

Why is this Collection important?

"This Collection focuses on transforming mining and mineral processing wastes into valuable resources through innovative recycling, valorization, and management strategies. Advancing responsible waste management directly addresses climate goals, circular economy principles, and UN SDGs 6, 12, and 13, making this research critical for both ecological resilience and industrial sustainability worldwide. As a researcher working at the interface of mineralogy and sustainable construction, I see immense potential in "waste" as a misplaced resource. This Collection will advance the field by presenting cutting-edge research on waste characterization, treatment technologies, and valorization pathways. This Collection offers high visibility for work addressing pressing global challenges, with a focus on actionable solutions that connect fundamental science to practical applications in mining regions worldwide."

- Dr. Baifa Zhang, Guest Editor

Why submit to a collection?  

Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by Guest Editors, who are experts in their fields, and In-House Editors and are supported by a dedicated team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors at Springer Nature. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores and provide a one-stop-shop on a cutting-edge topic of interest.  

Who is involved?

Guest Editors:

• Selçuk Alemdağ, Gümüşhane University, Turkey
• Wei Duan, Taiyuan University of Technology, China
• Guannan Liu, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China
• Baifa Zhang, Guangdong University of Technology, China

Internal Team:

• In-House Editor: Lin Qian, Scientific Reports, China
• Commissioning Editor: Ashiya Salim, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK
• Managing Editor: Amy Irving, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK

How can I submit my paper?

Visit the Collection page for more information on the Collection, and how to submit your article.