Circularity Above Linearity: Toward a Circular Mining Approach of the Planning for Mining Activities

Cities and territories are increasing ever more their attention with respect to circular industrial processes. The extraction of mining resources is one of the first steps in urban and territorial transformations, and it necessitates a step forward, beginning with the use of the entire extracted material. The paper focuses on the emerging concept of circular mining in the context of planning and management for mining activities, and on the role of assessment techniques and tools to explore complex problems through a multidimensional approach as support for the decision-making process in the definition of long-term strategies. It also provides an overview of relevant literature and current regulations related to the circular economy and mining. There is a wide range of techniques and tools of environmental assessment and addressed for example to analysis and assessment of environmental impact, the assessment of the most sustainable scenario, or the plan monitoring and management. The paper illustrates the case of the ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Regional Plan for Mining Activities (PRAE) of the Piedmont Region (Italy) and the plan issue of incorporating the circularity paradigm. A more sustainable planning and management of the mining sector is a promising challenge to renovate economic growth and development, and also to promote the adaptation of the city and its territory towards circularity. In this way, it will be feasible to provide a more sustainable future for future generations by taking care of the Earth’s resources and reserves.