This review examines the use of In-Pit Disposal of Mine Tailings (IPDMT) as a sustainable mine closure strategy. The authors argue that advances in metallurgical technologies, increasing metal prices, and growing demand for critical minerals are making the reprocessing of historical tailings deposits increasingly attractive. Under this approach, reprocessed tailings can be returned to exhausted open pits, reducing reliance on conventional surface tailings storage facilities and supporting circular economy objectives. The paper evaluates the principal advantages and limitations of IPDMT and reviews the technical considerations required to achieve long-term closure performance. Key design elements include maintaining physical stability through pit slope management and tailings placement design, hydrological stability through water and seepage management, and geochemical stability through characterization of tailings and control of acid mine drainage risks. The authors conclude that IPDMT has the potential to reduce environmental footprints, closure costs, and long-term liabilities while providing a responsible alternative for tailings management. However, successful implementation requires rigorous evaluation of geotechnical, hydrogeological, and geochemical conditions and careful consideration of future resource sterilization and groundwater protection.

Mine tailings represent one of the world's largest industrial waste streams, with billions of tonnes generated annually and substantial environmental liabilities associated with long-term storage, abandoned mine sites, and acid mine drainage. This review evaluated approximately 90 publications to examine current advancements in the recycling and reuse of mine tailings and related mining wastes, with a focus on their environmental, technical, and economic implications. The literature indicates that waste minimization remains the preferred management strategy; however, reuse and recycling offer significant opportunities to reduce tailings inventories while recovering value from previously discarded materials. The most mature applications involve the construction sector, where tailings have been incorporated into concrete, cement, bricks, road materials, and mine backfill. Agricultural and soil amendment applications have also shown promise, particularly where tailings contain beneficial mineral constituents capable of improving soil structure, reducing erosion, or supplying nutrients. Additionally, advances in metallurgical processing have increased interest in reprocessing historical tailings deposits to recover residual metals such as copper, iron, zinc, and gold. Despite these opportunities, widespread implementation remains constrained by geochemical variability, metal leaching risks, acid-generation potential, transportation costs, and regulatory requirements. The review concludes that while mine-tailing reuse and recycling cannot fully replace sound waste management practices, they represent important components of a circular economy approach that can reduce environmental liabilities, conserve natural resources, and create additional value streams from mining operations