Although copper smelting technology has been mastered by humans for thousands of years, the treatmentof waste generated by copper smelting remains a pressing issue. Copper slag is rich in iron oxide, silica, calcium oxide,and alumina. Recovering metals from copper slag is of great significance for alleviating metal resource shortages andreducing environmental pollution. Physical and chemical methods for recovering copper and other heavy metals wereintroduced, such as flotation, pyrometallurgy, and hydrometallurgy. Current research and application of these technologieswere summarized, and their advantages, disadvantages, and applicable scopes were compared. The main utilizationpathways of copper slag were described, including its use as construction materials and subgrade materials to promoteenvironmental sustainability. The advantages of copper slag properties in these applications and potential new areas ofuse were analyzed. The recovery and reuse of copper slag waste offer benefits in a circular economy, such as increasingthe supply of critical metals, reducing concrete costs, and minimizing hazards to the environment. This study provides aroadmap for the treatment of copper slag solid waste.