Mine Solid Waste Recycling in Beihu District, Hunan: Tailings Transformed into Aggregates, Aggregates Converted into Tile Adhesive

Beihu District recently achieved a major breakthrough in the comprehensive utilization of mining solid waste. By transforming tailings into aggregates—and subsequently processing these aggregates into products such as tile adhesives—the district has injected new vitality into the construction of its Sustainable Development Demonstration Zone. This innovative initiative not only turns discarded tailings into valuable resources but also fosters a win-win situation for all parties involved.

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Hunan Nonferrous Xintianling Tungsten Industry Co., Ltd. is a massive-scale tungsten mining enterprise located in the Xintianling region. Faced with issues such as insufficient tailings pond capacity and environmental impacts on the surrounding ecosystem, the company actively responded to the national sustainable development agenda in 2019. Through a "business-attracting-business" strategy, they brought in Hunan Huasheng Chuanyuan Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. to jointly implement a comprehensive resource utilization project for tungsten tailings, with an annual processing capacity of 600,000 tons.

Under this project, tailings are transported to Huasheng Chuanyuan, where they undergo a series of technical treatments—including screening, classification, dewatering, and drying. These processes successfully transform the waste into eco-friendly products such as activated dried micro-powder, aggregates for tile adhesives, and HSG low-carbon curing agents for mine backfilling. The project is projected to generate an output value of 17.5 million RMB this year, with the figure expected to reach 40 million RMB next year.

To further optimize the industrial chain, Beihu District once again leveraged investment promotion as a driving force, successfully attracting Hunan Zhuoshi New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. to join the collaboration. A contract was signed for a tile adhesive production project with an annual capacity of 200,000 tons. The materials processed by Huasheng Chuanyuan are now transported directly to Zhuoshi New Materials' automated production facility, providing the essential raw materials for manufacturing high-quality tile adhesives. Li Juxuan, a representative from Zhuoshi New Materials, noted that the factory's proximity to the raw material source has drastically reduced transportation costs, lowering the cost per ton by approximately 65%.

Officials from Beihu District stated that, through improvements to both upstream and downstream processes, the tailings are now utilized with high efficiency. This initiative reduces solid waste emissions by approximately 900,000 tons annually while simultaneously serving as a model for industrial chain collaboration in the comprehensive utilization of mining solid waste. This successful experience is expected to set a benchmark in the field of sustainable development, offering valuable insights and lessons for other regions to emulate.