Landfill could provide new seam for mining industry

Environment consultancy ADAS has predicted that reopening sites to recover recyclable products could become an attractive and viable option as the availability of landfill space becomes limited.

“With less available landfill space, high costs of landfilling and the scarcity of natural resources, mining for waste could become a genuine, thriving industry,” said Jackie Evans, ADAS director for the East Midlands.

“This region, and in particular, areas of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, have a rich coal mining heritage. It is entirely feasible that over the next 35 years, we could see mining return to our region but this time for recoverable waste.”

According to Jackie, the introduction of a waste mining industry could give real economic boost to the East Midlands economy. In addition, waste mining could also stimulate the development of Environment Technology companies, bringing further investment to the region.

“Mining for waste offers real benefits, bringing jobs and money into the region. With the East Midlands history of mining, we are ideally positioned in this area to develop and establish waste mining as a viable industry,” Jackie claims.