Waste Management Outlook for Mountain Regions

characteristic red, orange or yellow sediments, USGS 2016). As a consequence, the natural drainage water that flows on and below the surface becomes acidic and can dissolve heavy metals, such as copper, lead, zinc, cadmium and mercury that occur in the rocks and tailings. The contaminated ground and surface water makes its way into downstreamwaterbodies and both the acidity and dissolved metals can have serious downstream impacts on people and ecosystems. Management of mining waste has improved over the years as a result of regulatory and legislative pressures (Peck et al., 2005). After several incidents and severe accidents in both developed and developing countries, governments and international organisations decided to build a technical framework for mining activities. Countries, international organisations and agencies have drafted technical documents related to best practices for the mining industry (mainly for the management of mining waste). The challenge ahead is to make mining companies liable for the post mining period. The level of mining industry compliance to regulatory norms depends on several factors, including: • presence of a legislative and regulatory framework (which can include “self-regulation) by companies themselves Regulations and frameworks for mining waste

• existence of an efficient enforcement system • pressures from the civil society (such as affected communities)

The existence of a coherent legislative and regulatory framework within a country is a necessary condition but it is not sufficient to ensure environmentally sound waste management and health and safety systems. Guidelines might be helpful but do not guarantee that the mining company will observe them during the life cycle of the mine. It is important that an enforcement system is in place to ensure that industry complies with the national regulations. Participation of civil society in the permitting process also can be helpful for the identification of some potential non-compliance problems which could remove them from the early stages of the activity. Civil society pressure can also be a driver for self- regulation, where an industry establishes codes of practice, enforcement or other mechanisms for regulating itself. Accidents can happen even if a company is observing all regulatory and guiding technical norms, but if the activity was not properly designed and operated (waste management planning and operation, health and safety observed) sooner or later the accidents would appear. Unfortunately, these accidents cause serious environment damage and can lead to the loss of human lives.

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