Coal mine refuse disposal in Great Britain

Technical Report · Wed Mar 31 04:00:00 EST 1971

OSTI ID:5204963

Glover, H G

Coal mine refuse in Britain has increased during the last forty years. Over 90 percent of the mine refuse is not discharged to banks. Refuse output was expected to peak at 60 to 80 million tons per year in 1966 to 1968 and then gradually decline. The number and size of unsightly refuse banks have increased in the past few decades. In 1964, there were about 150,000 acres of derelict land in Britain. Half of this was caused by refuse banks, the other half by unfilled excavations. The quantity of coal mine refuse in these banks was approximately one to two billion tons mainly from bituminous operations. Some of these refuse banks were burning, which complicated the problem. Legislative controls were enacted to correct these conditions. The cost of reclamation of abandoned refuse banks is normally supported by public funds. Costs may vary from $80 to $5,000 per acre. Some old refuse banks are reprocessed to recover available fuel. Several universities are conducting research programs in the general field of coal mine refuse utilization and disposal. Today, there are probably no more than 6 banks emitting even a slight odor. There are no mine refuse problems associated with any present or former strip mines. All excavations have been restored to contour, land surface and site drainage.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Mineral Preparation
• OSTI ID: 5204963
• Report Number(s): SR-81
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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