998 ENABLING CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN TAILINGS MANAGEMENT: DIGITALIZATION, INTEGRATED DATA, AND RIS-INFORMED GOVERNANCE *F.I. Sartini1, P. Braga2, M. Greco3 1 SAM Regional HITM Plataform coordinator / GISTM Specialist, Hatch, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (*Presenting author: fabiola.ivo@hatch.com) 2Senior Tailings Engineer, Hatch, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 3Tailings and Mine Closure Lead, Hatch, Lima, Peru ABSTRACT The mining industry faces increasing pressure to reduce the environmental footprint and long-term risks associated with tailings management. In this context, circular economy principles have gained relevance as a framework to reduce waste generation, promote reprocessing, and enhance material reuse. However, the implementation of circular strategies in tailings management introduces technical, geotechnical, and governance challenges that require integrated decision-making processes. This paper discusses the role of digitalization and integrated tailings management platforms as facilitators of circular economy practices in the mining sector. By enabling data integration, traceability, and risk-informed decision-making throughout the lifecycle of tailings facilities, such platforms support the safe application of circular approaches while reinforcing governance and accountability. The paper combines conceptual analysis with a practical case illustration and critically analyzes opportunities, limitations, and trade-offs, emphasizing that digital solutions act as enablers rather than standalone solutions, and must be embedded within robust engineering and governance frameworks. KEYWORDS Circular Economy, Tailings Management, Decision Making, GISTM 1. INTRODUCTION Tailings management remains one of the most critical technical, environmental, and governance challenges in the mining industry due to the large volumes involved, the long-term stability requirements, and the severe consequences associated with failures. Recent tailings facility incidents have intensified regulatory, societal, and investor scrutiny, driving the adoption of more rigorous international standards focused on governance, risk management, and transparency. At the same time, the traditional linear economic model, based on continuous resource extraction, production, and disposal, has become increasingly unsustainable in the face of expanding industrial activity, pressure on finite natural resources, and growing environmental and social constraints. In mining, this model is reflected in the ongoing generation of large volumes of tailings, often treated as permanent liabilities, resulting in substantial long-term environmental impacts, complex operational risks, and escalating lifecycle costs. In response, the concept of a circular economy has emerged as a strategic framework for the mining sector, aiming to reduce reliance on virgin raw materials, enhance resource efficiency, and reintegrate materials into productive cycles. Applied to tailings management, circular economy approaches include reducing tailings generation at the source, reprocessing legacy tailings, valorizing tailings as secondary materials, and adopting alternative disposal methods. Beyond their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such approaches offer institutional benefits, including improved
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