In about 1979, when MRN started operating commercially, the waste contention methods proved not to be appropriate for the Porto Trombetas region, due to the region's highly flat topography. There being no other technology available, it was decided to throw the waste from mineral washing into the Batata Lake.

The harm caused to the environment was inevitable. For this reason, since 1981 MRN has been unwaveringly seeking new alternatives for waste disposal. In 1987, through partnerships and agreements with scientists and university researchers, the company started to remedy the impact that had been caused to the lake, in 1989 succeeding in developing, having invested over US$ 89 million, a pioneer method of treatment, totally clean and not aggressive to the environment, in which all waste materials arising from the washing of bauxite and that are not reused are kept confined in special tanks in the mining area itself, which is later revegetated.

At present, Batata Lake is showing clear signs of improvement and is now home to more than 46 different species of fish, compared to a mere six species in 1991, also having over 65 hectares of revegetated land.

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