A public benefit company named Regeneration, based in Washington, is on a mission to clean up land and waterways in the Yukon, British Columbia, and Alaska while also generating profits. The innovative project utilizes advanced technology to extract metals from waste material found at old mine sites. Regeneration has formed partnerships with prominent companies like Apple, Tiffany and Co., and Canadian jewelry brand Mejuri, all of which have committed to purchasing metals obtained from legacy mine sites and contributing to the restoration efforts.
Initiated over a decade ago, the project initially targeted sites in the North affected by years of placer mining, resulting in significant sediment and waste rock accumulation in streams and rivers. CEO Stephen D’Esposito highlighted the growing awareness among jewelry and technology companies regarding environmental issues in the mining sector and their willingness to be part of the solution. By reprocessing waste material, the project aims not only to extract residual gold but also to restore streams and reintroduce vegetation, creating a habitat conducive to species like salmon and grayling.
Mejuri and other companies view this project as an opportunity to align with their climate and sustainability objectives. Mejuri’s Vice-President of Sustainability and Social Impact, Holly McHugh, emphasized the increasing consumer interest in ethically sourced jewelry. The project necessitated collaboration with refineries capable of handling small gold batches separately to ensure a fully traceable product, a practice demanded by conscious consumers.
The first “Salmon Gold” jewelry pieces from Mejuri debuted last year, with a fresh line released on October 13. Originally launched as a non-profit initiative by NGO Resolve, the project evolved into the startup Regeneration in 2021, aiming for broader impact. Recognizing the prevalence of abandoned and polluting mines across Canada, D’Esposito pointed out the exorbitant costs and taxpayer funding typically required for mine site remediation.
Regeneration’s core philosophy revolves around the financial viability of waste cleanup, challenging the conventional mining industry focus on opening and financing new mines rather than addressing existing waste issues. The company employs modern technology to revisit old mine sites, extracting valuable metals from toxic waste to fulfill both cleanup and resource recovery objectives. While conventional remediation often prioritizes water quality over ecological aspects, Regeneration’s approach emphasizes reprocessing waste material rather than temporary fixes.
Besides ongoing efforts in Hedley, British Columbia, Regeneration is engaged in discussions with First Nations and the federal government for potential projects in the Yukon. Despite lingering uncertainties about the long-term sustainability of remediated sites, stakeholders like Sebastian Jones from the Yukon Conservation Society commend Regeneration’s innovative approach to addressing longstanding environmental challenges in the mining sector.