The recovery and utilization of tailings can reduce safety risks in open-pit mines while improving resource efficiency. This study develops a stability model for tailings recovery based on current slope and ore pillar conditions, incorporating mechanical parameters of tailings and waste rock from laboratory tests. Results indicate that complete extraction of Tailings Ore Body No. 1 in Section 1 caused no landslides, whereas excavation to 35 m in Section 2 triggered large-scale sliding on the southern slope. In Sections 3–7, northern waste rock slopes experienced varying degrees of failure after full extraction. To ensure stability, Section 2 should adopt a stepped scheme: after mining 15 m at a 20° slope angle, excavate an additional 10 m, reserve a 10 m bench, and repeat to the ore body bottom. This approach prevents southern slope failure while stabilizing the system. For northern slopes, applying a 35° slope angle effectively eliminated sliding across all profiles.

The recovery and comprehensive utilization of tailings resources can effectively mitigate or eliminate safety hazards in the upper zones of open-pit mines. To ensure the safe recovery of accumulated tailings and enhance resource utilization efficiency, this study establishes a two-dimensional model based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for the overall stability of tailings recovery, which is integrated with the existing slope and ore pillar models of the open-pit mine. Leveraging the mechanical parameters of tailings and waste rock obtained from laboratory tests, this study systematically investigates the effects of tailings recovery on the stability of existing slopes. Results show that due to differences in fracture characteristics and tailings reserves, complete tailings extraction causes no landslides in some sections, but large-scale or varying landslides occur on southern/northern flank slopes in specific sections at certain excavation depths or after full extraction. Targeted recovery recommendations are proposed: “segmented excavation with bench reservation” prevents overall landslides on southern flank slopes of landslide-prone sections; 35° slope cutting ensures stability of northern flank slopes in all sections. Further field verification considering rainfall and seismic loading factors is required for practical applications.