Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cost of proper waste management of retorted mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining: global estimates and financial implications

  • SPECIAL FEATURE: ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Mercury cycles and their management
  • Published:
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Implementing retorts in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) to mitigate mercury emissions is a positive development. However, it creates a new challenge: the need for proper management of retorted mercury waste. This study aimed to estimate the global waste management cost for retorted mercury using stringent guidelines for mercury waste management. The results showed that the estimated cost could reach a maximum of 16.6 million USD by 2050, which is 44.7 times higher than the global retort purchase cost. Thus, securing waste management costs for retorted mercury is essential when implementing retorts for mercury mitigation. However, this may be challenging in many artisanal and small-scale gold mining countries due to low governance levels and underestimated short-term 5-year National Action Plan budgets. To address this issue, an additional 33.2% long-term budget in comparison with cumulative global environment facility ASGM funding so far will be required globally during 2015–2050 for proper waste management of retorted mercury. This study proposes a strategy for proper mercury waste management from a financial viewpoint by examining the context of mercury waste management in national action plans and estimating the global environment facility ASGM funding contribution by gold-consuming countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bank MS (2020) The mercury science-policy interface: history, evolution and progress of the Minamata convention. Sci Total Environ 722:137832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. United Nations Environment Programme, 2017 "Minamata Convention on Mercury," available at https://www.mercuryconvention.org/. Accessed 30.11.2020

  3. Budnik LT, Casteleyn L (2019) Mercury pollution in modern times and its socio-medical consequences. Sci Total Environ 654:720–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hilson G, Zolnikov TR, Ortiz DR, Kumah C (2018) Formalizing artisanal artisanal gold mining under the Minamata convention: Previewing the challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Environ Sci Policy 85:123–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. United Nations Environment Programme, 2017 "Reducing Mercury in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM)," available at: http://web.unep.org/chemicalsandwaste/global-mercury-partnership/reducing-mercury-artisanal-and-small-scale-gold-mining-asgm. Accessed 20 May 2021

  6. Seccatore J, Veiga M, Origliasso C, Marin T, De Tomi G (2014) An estimation of the artisanal small-scale production of gold in the world. Sci Total Environ 496:662–667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cordy P, Veiga M, Crawford B, Garcia O, Gonzalez V, Moraga D, Roeser M, Wip D (2013) Characterization, mapping, and mitigation of mercury vapour emissions from artisanal mining gold shops. Environ Res 125:82–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Spiegel SJ, Agrawal S, Mikha D, Vitamerry K, Le Billon P, Veiga M, Konolius K (2018) Phasing out mercury? Ecological economics and Indonesia’s small-scale gold mining sector. Ecol Econ 144:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Smith NM (2019) “Our gold is dirty, but we want to improve”: challenges to addressing mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Peru. J Clean Prod 222:646–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Driscoll CT, Mason RP, Chan HM, Jacob DJ, Pirrone N (2013) Mercury as a global pollutant: sources, pathways, and effects. Environ Sci Technol 47(10):4967–4983

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Cossa H, Scheidegger R, Leuenberger A, Ammann P, Munguambe K, Utzinger J, Macete E, Winkler MS (2021) Health studies in the context of artisanal and small-scale mining: a scoping review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(4):1555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Schwartz FW, Lee S, Darrah TH (2021) A review of the scope of artisanal and small-scale mining worldwide, poverty, and the associated health impacts. Geohealth 5(1):e2020GH000325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ottenbros IB, Boerleider RZ, Jubitana B, Roeleveld N, Scheepers PTJ (2019) Knowledge and awareness of health effects related to the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Suriname. Environ Int 122:142–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hinton JJ, Veiga MM, Veiga ATC (2003) Clean artisanal gold mining: a utopian approach? J Clean Prod 11:99–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Van Bockstael S (2014) The persistence of informality: perspectives on the future of artisanal mining in Liberia. Futures 62:10–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Betancur-Corredor B, Loaiza-Usuga JC, Denich M, Borgemeister C (2018) Gold mining as a potential driver of development in Colombia: challenges and opportunities. J Clean Prod 199:538–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. United Nations Environment Programme, (2006) "Summary of supply, trade and demand information on mercury," UNEP Governing Council decision 23/9 IV

  18. Veiga M, (2004) "Equipment Specification for the Demonstration Units in Sudan," available at http://www.artisanalmining.org/Repository/02/The_GMP_Files/processed%20files%20-%20iwlearn.net/Reports%20%28by%20country%29/Sudan/equipment-specification-for-the-demonstration-units-in-sudan.pdf Accessed 13 May 2021

  19. Garcia O, Veiga MM, Cordy P, Suescun OE, Molina JM, Roeser M (2015) Artisanal gold mining in Antioquia, Colombia: a successful case of mercury reduction. J Clean Prod 90:244–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Shandro JA, Veiga MM, Chouinard R (2006) Reducing mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining in Munhena, Mozambique. J Clean Prod 17(5):525–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kosai S, Nakajima K, Yamasue E (2023) Mercury mitigation and unintended consequences in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Resour Conserv Recycl 188:106708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ministry of the Environment, (2021) "Waste mercury guideline," Ministry of the Environment, Japanese government (in japanese)

  23. Ishigaki T, Yanase R (2016) Environmentally-sound final disposal of mercury waste. J Jpn Soc Mater Cycles Waste Manag 27(6):404–411

    Google Scholar 

  24. Veiga MM, Masson P, Perron D, Laflamme AC, Gagnon R, Jimenez G, Marshall BG (2018) An affordable solution for micro-miners in Colombia to process gold ores without mercury. J Clean Prod 205:995–1005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Prescott GW, Baird M, Geenen S, Nkuba B, Phelps J, Webb EL (2022) Formalizing artisanal and small-scale gold mining: a grand challenge of the Minamata convention. One Earth 5(3):242–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. AMAP/UN Environment, "Technical Background Report for the Global Mercury Assessment 2018," Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, Oslo, Norway/UN Environment Programme, Chemicals and Health Branch, Geneva, Switzerland, 2019

  27. UNEP, (2022) "Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4) - Second segment," available at https://mercuryconvention.org/en/meetings/cop4. Accessed 18.10.2022

  28. Cheng Y, Nakajima K, Nansai K, Seccatore J, Veiga MM, Takaoka M (2022) Examining the inconsistency of mercury flow in post-Minamata convention global trade concerning artisanal and small-scale gold mining activity. Resour Conserv Recycl 185:106461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. UN Environment Chemicals and Health Branch, (2016) "Introduction to mercury use in Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining," UN Environment Chemicals and Health Branch

  30. Jønsson JB, Appel PWU, Chibunda RT (2009) A matter of approach: the retort’s potential to reduce mercury consumption within small-scale gold mining settlements in Tanzania. J Clean Prod 17(1):77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Blacksmith Institute, "Re-activation of mercury using electrolysis," available at https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/12755/Electrolysis_Kit.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 04.07.2021

  32. Onibokun AG (1999) Managing the monster: urban waste and governance in Africa. International Development Research Centre, Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  33. Godfrey L, Ahmed MT, Gebremedhin KG, Katima JHY, Oelofse S, Osibanjo O, Richter UH, Yonli AH (2020) Solid waste management in Africa: governance failure or development opportunity? Regional Development in Africa. IntechOpen, London

    Google Scholar 

  34. World Bank, 2022 "Worldwide Governance Indicators," available at http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/. Accessed 08.06.2022

  35. UNITAR & UN Environment, (2018) "Handbook for Developing National ASGM Formalization Strategies within National Action Plans," UNITAR & UN Environment, Geneva

  36. Global Environment Facility Independent Evaluation Office (GEF IEO), (2022) “GEF Interventions in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector,” Evaluation Report No. 146, Washington, DC: GEF IEO

  37. World Gold Council, (2018) "Gold Demand Trends Full Year 2019," World Gold Council

  38. The World Bank, (2022) “World Bank Country and Lending Groups,” available at https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups?cid=ECR_FB_Tokyo_JA_EXT. Accessed 10.12.2022

  39. Bauer S (2010) Requirements for facilities and acceptance criteria for the disposal of metallic mercury BiPRO. European Union Agency for Asylum, Valletta

    Google Scholar 

  40. Kurogi D, Kosai S, Murakami G, Phong LT, Quang ND, Huy ND, Luong N, Yamasue E (2021) Estimating the generation of recycled metals from obsolete motorcycles in Vietnam for ELV management. J Mater Cycles Waste Manage 23:1563–1575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Veiga MM, Fadina O (2020) A review of the failed attempts to curb mercury use at artisanal gold mining and a proposed solution. Extractive Indusries Soc 7:1135–1146

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by research funds from the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (SII-6-2: JPMEERF20S20620) and JST-Mirai Program Grant (PMJMI21I5).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, Noji-Higashi 1-1-1, Kusatsu-shi, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan

    Shoki Kosai

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering Ritsumeikan University, Noji-Higashi 1-1-1, Kusatsu-shi, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan

    Shion Yamao, Shunsuke Kashiwakura & Eiji Yamasue

  3. Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan

    Tomonori Ishigaki & Kenichi Nakajima

  4. Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8563, Japan

    Kenichi Nakajima

Authors
  1. Shoki Kosai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shion Yamao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shunsuke Kashiwakura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eiji Yamasue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tomonori Ishigaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kenichi Nakajima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shoki Kosai.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 475 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kosai, S., Yamao, S., Kashiwakura, S. et al. Cost of proper waste management of retorted mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining: global estimates and financial implications. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 25, 2681–2690 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01731-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01731-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation