Finland aims to turn massive mining waste into resources as Lapland pushes for recycling
Finland generated 94 million tonnes of mining waste in 2023, but a new initiative in Lapland seeks to transform the material into commercial products, reports national broadcaster Yle. Steel producer Outokumpu is leading efforts to build an industrial ecosystem for recycling mine tailings, starting with its chromium mine in Kemi.
The company’s Kemi site produces around three million tonnes of mining byproducts annually—including side rock, tailings sand, and low-grade ore—most of which is currently used for backfilling underground mines or stored on-site. Outokumpu is now compiling a detailed database of its waste composition to attract businesses capable of developing new products, such as low-carbon cement alternatives.
“The goal is to create an industrial ecosystem for utilising these materials, first scaling it across Lapland’s mines and eventually across Europe,” said Martti Sassi, head of Outokumpu’s ferrochrome business. He criticised current regulations as overly complex, noting that Finnish waste, environmental protection, and chemical laws—alongside EU mining waste directives—create barriers to repurposing materials outside mine areas.
According to Statistics Finland, mining and quarrying accounted for 77% of the country’s total waste in 2023. Recycling could reduce costs, improve material efficiency, and cut environmental risks, said Päivi Kauppila, a senior expert at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). Reusing crushed or processed materials like tailings sand would also lower energy use and CO₂ emissions by reducing demand for virgin resources.
Outokumpu has identified five potential business opportunities for the waste: soil improvement materials, low-carbon cement substitutes, CO₂ capture, heat storage for sand batteries, and mineral extraction. The company’s environmental permit already allows side rock to be repurposed for construction if used promptly or after short-term storage.
Mining byproducts include natural overburden (removed to access deposits), side rock (excavated to reach ore), tailings sand (fine-grained residue after mineral extraction), and marginal ore (low-grade material that may become viable if metal prices rise).