Phytomining is a tool that utilizes plants to take up economic metals and metalloids such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, and gold into its aerial tissues from sub-economic ore bodies such as mine wastes. The output from phytomining produces highly valuable bio-ores that can be extracted from its biomass enabling a dual role as a practical sustainable cleanup with economic gain. Mine wastes generated from mining activity around the world typically comprise crushed rock, process effluent, sand, clay, and water, alongside notable quantities of metal residues that are economically impractical to extract using traditional methods. These wastes often lack sufficient organic matter or macronutrients, hindering the growth and survival of various organisms, including bacteria, resulting in un-vegetated areas. Environmental concerns regarding mine waste management also have escalated due to high levels of toxic metals and metalloids and metalloids such as arsenic that can be chemically leached out together with the mined metals and metalloids and metalloids due to its presence in the same ore deposits. This review discusses potential solutions for managing mine waste through phytomining.