How to save the planet from gold mining that pollutes

There’s nothing wrong with gold per se. The problem is that gold mining is extremely bad for the environment. Modern gold mining methods generate about 20 tons of toxic waste for every gold ring. Gold mining pollutes the air and water with toxic substances like cyanide and mercury. The leading cause of mercury pollution today, ahead of even coal-fired power plants, is gold mining. And it’s partly because of gold mining that the Amazon rainforest is being destroyed and that mercury levels in fish are so high.
How can the world continue to enjoy gold without wreaking havoc on the planet?
One solution is for gold miners to use more eco-friendly mining methods. They could stop using mercury or stop dumping their toxic waste in rivers and oceans. But there’s an even better solution: the world could simply recycle more of the gold we already have.
http://thegreentimes.co.za/how-to-save-the-planet-from-gold-mining/