Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
This paper examines the dynamics of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) within the context of circular economy (CE) practices in Africa, with a focus on informal gold mining in Ghana. Utilising a case study approach and thematic analysis of qualitative data collected through 50 interviews and field/participant observations spanning from 2019 to 2023, the research uncovers diverse CE practices within the ASM sector and their impacts on rural communities and the natural environment. Based on our findings, CE practices in ASM include sorting waste rocks, recycling tailings, and reprocessing tailings. Applying the paradox knot framework for our study, the findings reveal a “ Tailings paradox ”, wherein the recycling of mine waste from ASM operations presents intertwined socio-economic opportunities and environmental and health challenges. We thus developed a Tailings Paradox Framework to explain how the “ Tailing paradox” can be addressed through a dialectical process of paradox reduction—made up of a regulative system involving regulations, laws and policies, norms, collaborative governance structures, community-led monitoring, adoption of mercury-free technologies, and hybrid governance models —in a bid to formalise informal CE practices associated with mine tailings from ASM operations. Critical discussions from our framework reveal that interventions aimed at addressing environmental and health impacts may inadvertently limit access to economic and social benefits for the most disadvantaged individuals in rural communities. The findings underscore the importance of integrating CE principles into ASM operations to mitigate environmental degradation and promote sustainable development, while also emphasising the need for paradox-oriented collaborative governance approaches.
Arthur-Holmes et al. (Fri,) studied this question.