Tailings are the industrial solid wastes with the largest amount of production and storage.The environmental risks caused by tailings are prominent and have become a shortcoming that cannot be ignored in solid waste management.Toxic and harmful substances in tailings will have varying degrees of impact on surface water, groundwater, soil, and atmosphere.In order to prevent tailings pollution, to eliminate potential pollution, to reduce the accidents of tailings polluting the environment, and further to improve the prevention and to control ability of tailings polluting the environment in China, the basic information of tailings and policies of tailings management system are summarized, the impact ways of tailings on the environment and the current situation of pollution control measures of tailings in China are summarized and explained.The environmental problems caused by safety accidents of tailings pond in China are analyzed.In view of the problems in the pollution prevention of tailings in terms of imperfect policies and regulations, weak environmental supervision ability and engineering measures for the pollution prevention of tailings, it is proposed to improve the environmental management policy system, to prevent environmental risks of tailings, to improve the handling capacity of environmental emergencies and to improve the comprehensive utilization rate of tailings, so as to strengthen the prevention and control of tailings pollution, to lay a foundation for the environmental management of solid waste in the 14th five year plan, and to contribute to the realization of the long-term goal of building a beautiful China.