Integrating anthropogenic material stocks and flows into modern resource classification frameworks

This study investigates how anthropogenic resources could fit into the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009). Compared to geogenic resources, anthropogenic deposits are more heterogeneous and often more decentralized. Further, the human impact on production, consumption and disposal, combined with significantly shorter time spans of renewal are major differences. Factors influencing the classification of anthropogenic material deposits include various aspects such as technological developments, market prices, laws, and ecological and social considerations. They can be systemized according to their role during the individual phases of resource classification, namely prospection, exploration and evaluation. The prospection phase is determined by 1) the deposit’s status of availability for mining, discriminating between “in-use stocks”, “obsolete stocks” and “waste flows”, 2) by the specific condition of handling and potential mining (push vs. pull situation), and 3) the system variables, which determine the potentially extractable amount of materials. System variables (e.g. technological options) also play a major role during the exploration phase and can potentially be varied in a scenario analysis. For the socioeconomic evaluation modifying factors with direct impact on the project’s economics are investigated. The influencing factors of mining anthropogenic resources from 1) an old landfill, 2) waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and 3) wind turbines are analyzed. To map such different types of anthropogenic materials within the three UNFC-2009 axes “knowledge on composition”, “field project status and technical feasibility” and “socioeconomic viability”, specific guidelines are still to be defined and need to be demonstrated via case studies. Ultimately, this will allow for a meaningful comparison of anthropogenic with geogenic mineral resources, promoting efficient resource use.