South Africa's mining industry generates a significant amount of by-products, including waste rock, tailings, and slag. These by-products can have negative environmental and social impacts, including water and air pollution, land degradation, and health problems for local communities.

To address these impacts, South Africa needs to refresh how it manages mining by-products. This includes:

- Developing and implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework for the management of mining by-products. This framework should set out clear standards and requirements for the storage, handling, and disposal of mining by-products, as well as for the rehabilitation of land affected by mining.

- Encouraging the use of innovative technologies for the recycling and reuse of mining by-products. This can help to reduce the environmental and social impacts of mining and create new economic opportunities.

- Promoting public participation in the decision-making process for mining projects. This includes providing information to local communities about the potential impacts of mining and allowing them to have a say in how mining projects are designed and operated.

By refreshing its approach to the management of mining by-products, South Africa can help to reduce the environmental and social impacts of mining and create a more sustainable future for its mining industry.

Here are some specific examples of how South Africa can refresh its management of mining by-products:

- The government can develop and implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for the management of mining by-products. This framework could set out clear standards and requirements for the storage, handling, and disposal of mining by-products, as well as for the rehabilitation of land affected by mining. It could also include provisions for public participation in the decision-making process for mining projects.

- The government can encourage the use of innovative technologies for the recycling and reuse of mining by-products. This could include providing financial incentives for companies that invest in these technologies and developing partnerships with research institutions to develop new technologies.

- The government can promote public participation in the decision-making process for mining projects. This could include providing information to local communities about the potential impacts of mining and allowing them to have a say in how mining projects are designed and operated.

By taking these steps, South Africa can help to reduce the environmental and social impacts of mining and create a more sustainable future for its mining industry.