Research objective: analysis of waste disposal issues in the mining and mineral processing industry of the Russian Federation. Research methodology: economic and environmental challenges concerned with mining and mineral processing waste in dumps and tailings were analysed. Results: an option is proposed to dispose of the waste rock generated by the mining and processing industry by using it for construction of railways and motor roads. This technology makes it possible to avoid construction of

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... quarries and temporary settlements for their development along the road route, which will decrease the environmental impact and significantly reduce the time and cost of road construction. Conclusions: The proposed technology helps to achieve a significant economic effect (no costs for transporting materials from remote areas of the country), reduce the adverse environmental impact of mining operations and, in the long term, prevent dump formation.