Red mud, now more frequently termed bauxite residue, is an industrial waste generated during the processing of bauxite into alumina using the Bayer process. It is composed of various oxide compounds, including the iron oxides which give its red colour. Over 97% of the alumina produced globally is through the Bayer process; for every tonne (2,200 lb) of alumina produced, approximately 1 to 1.5 tonnes of red mud are also produced; the global average is 1.23. Annual production of alumina in 2023 was over 142 million tonnes resulting in the generation of approximately 170 million tonnes of red mud.