Key Issues
Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste
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Successful Waste Minimization Procedures
Since 1980, because the cost of low-level waste disposal has been rising and access to disposal sites has been in jeopardy, waste generators—industry, government, utility, academic and medical—have dramatically reduced the volume of low-level waste sent to commercial disposal sites. In 1980, more than 3.7 million cubic feet of low-level waste were disposed of commercially. In 2001, the volume of “traditional” low-level waste (higher radioactivity levels, low-volume) declined to 140,147 cubic feet, a reduction of 96 percent. This reduction occurred even though the number of nuclear power plants increased by more than 50 percent during the same period.
In addition to the traditional low-level waste disposed of in 2001, more than 1.2 million cubic feet of low-activity, high-volume, low-level waste was disposed of at the Utah facility from the de-commissioning of nuclear facilities and site cleanup activities.
Volumes of traditional waste have dropped because generators have worked hard to produce less of it. Management practices have improved—for example, segregating radioactive and nonradioac-tive materials. In some cases, nonradioactive materials have been substituted for radioactive mate-rials.
Generators also have been successful in reducing the volume of low-level waste already generated. Techniques include compaction, incineration, decontamination and storage while it decays.
On-site Decay
Many radio-nuclides in low-level waste decay to safe levels within a relatively short time. When wastes are safely stored at their generation sites for a few days to a few years (depending on half-life and available storage space), the radioactivity may be reduced to safe background levels. On-site storage of low-level waste is regulated by the NRC and/or the agree-ment states.
Compaction
Compactors can achieve as much as a 90 percent volume reduction, depending on the size of the compactor and the type of waste. Today’s “supercompactors,” which can exert a force of 1,000 tons or more, can crush dry waste to a small fraction of its original volume.
Decontamination
By decontaminating large pieces of equipment, tools, metal, glassware and clothing, low-level waste generators are able to reuse or recycle them.
Incineration
Combustible dry wastes can be incinerated with as much as a 99 percent reduction in volume. The NRC or agreement state strictly regulates how much radiation can be released to the environment through incineration. Incinerators are equipped with filters and other technologies that make sure these limits are strictly adhered to and that the public is protected. Virtually all the radioactivity in incinerated materials remains in the ash, which is disposed of in licensed low-level waste disposal facilities.
Successful Waste Minimization Procedures
Since 1980, because the cost of low-level waste disposal has been rising and access to disposal sites has been in jeopardy, waste generators—industry, government, utility, academic and medical—have dramatically reduced the volume of low-level waste sent to commercial disposal sites. In 1980, more than 3.7 million cubic feet of low-level waste were disposed of commercially. In 2001, the volume of “traditional” low-level waste (higher radioactivity levels, low-volume) declined to 140,147 cubic feet, a reduction of 96 percent. This reduction occurred even though the number of nuclear power plants increased by more than 50 percent during the same period.
In addition to the traditional low-level waste disposed of in 2001, more than 1.2 million cubic feet of low-activity, high-volume, low-level waste was disposed of at the Utah facility from the de-commissioning of nuclear facilities and site cleanup activities.
Volumes of traditional waste have dropped because generators have worked hard to produce less of it. Management practices have improved—for example, segregating radioactive and nonradioac-tive materials. In some cases, nonradioactive materials have been substituted for radioactive mate-rials.
Generators also have been successful in reducing the volume of low-level waste already generated. Techniques include compaction, incineration, decontamination and storage while it decays.
On-site Decay
Many radio-nuclides in low-level waste decay to safe levels within a relatively short time. When wastes are safely stored at their generation sites for a few days to a few years (depending on half-life and available storage space), the radioactivity may be reduced to safe background levels. On-site storage of low-level waste is regulated by the NRC and/or the agree-ment states.
Compaction
Compactors can achieve as much as a 90 percent volume reduction, depending on the size of the compactor and the type of waste. Today’s “supercompactors,” which can exert a force of 1,000 tons or more, can crush dry waste to a small fraction of its original volume.
Decontamination
By decontaminating large pieces of equipment, tools, metal, glassware and clothing, low-level waste generators are able to reuse or recycle them.
Incineration
Combustible dry wastes can be incinerated with as much as a 99 percent reduction in volume. The NRC or agreement state strictly regulates how much radiation can be released to the environment through incineration. Incinerators are equipped with filters and other technologies that make sure these limits are strictly adhered to and that the public is protected. Virtually all the radioactivity in incinerated materials remains in the ash, which is disposed of in licensed low-level waste disposal facilities.
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