Getting serious about mining the technosphere: a review of recent landfill mining and urban mining research

Abstract

This study reviews the articles in a special volume of Journal of Cleaner Production on urban mining and landfill mining, identifying what is seen as relevant for exploring the feasibility of such approaches and which societal changes and research areas are essential for their further dissemination. In doing so, we put the articles in relation to previous research and a modified resilience model displaying dimensions of relevance for socio-ecological transitions, i.e., Metabolic flows, Governance & knowledge, Business dynamics and Infrastructure & markets. The main contributions of the articles in the special volume are in regards to metabolic issues (e.g. characterization of technospheric material stocks and societal impacts of landfill mining) and business dimensions (e.g. economics, organizational issues and management tools). Two articles also provide original contributions by conceptualizing these emerging approaches and defining what makes them different from existing recycling strategies and practices. We conclude that urban mining and landfill mining show high potential but that state-of-the-art is theoretical, implying a need for applied approaches to develop applicable methods and technology and to assess performance of such activities in practice. However, realization of these approaches faces interdisciplinary and long-term challenges, which apart from technology and facts also needs to address non-technical conditions in terms of governance, market dynamics and organizational structures and cultures.