Tailings strategy selection should adopt a life-cycle, risk-integrated evaluation framework that extends beyond initial CAPEX and simplified OPEX comparisons to include closure costs, water and energy impacts, environmental and social externalities, and regulatory compliance. Water supply and tailings strategies should be integrated early in project development, particularly where desalination or long-distance water transport is required. Modern filtration technologies, including automated and modular pressure filter systems, should be explicitly considered in contemporary alternatives analyses. Where site conditions permit, integrated waste strategies such as co-disposal and co-mixing should be evaluated to enhance geotechnical, geochemical, and closure performance. Regulators are encouraged to update approval frameworks to recognize filtered tailings as a lower-consequence technology and to require transparent, GISTM-aligned alternatives assessments. Finally, operators should invest in organizational capability training, operational readiness, and monitoring systems to ensure reliable filtered tailings performance, and promote transparency in tailings cost and risk reporting to support sound, defensible decision-making. References Leonida, C. (2020). How to Make Filtered Tailings Feasible. Engineering & Mining Journal (E&MJ). Gómez, C.; Romo, D. et al. Non-Conventional Tailings: The Reason Why. Presentation on Paste 2024 Fitton, T.G. Avoiding dam failures: is filtration the best solution?Paste 2024 Josic, S. et al. The Barriers to Widespread Adoption of Tailings Dewatering Technologies – Proceedings of Tailings and Mine Waste 2024 Vargas, C.C. and G.P. Campomanes. 2022. Practical experience of filtered tailings technology in Chile and Peru: an environmentally friendly solution. Minerals Carneiro, A. and A.B. Fourie. 2019. An integrated approach to cost comparisons of different tailings management options. In A.J.C. Paterson, A.B. Fourie and D. Reid (editors), Paste 2019: Proceedings of the 22nd International Seminar on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings Cox,B. et al. A unified metric for costing tailings dams and the consequences for tailings management Elsevier (2022) 102862
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