The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

05 June 2009

 

We launched a consultation for the draft strategy for the Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste from the UK Nuclear Industry today.

• See consultation pages for access to draft documents and how to respond

This is in response to revised Government policy for the management of solid Low Level Waste (LLW).

The strategy has been produced in conjunction with a UK wide consultative group - the Low Level Waste Strategy Group, which represents a cross-section of interested parties. In addition NDA has consulted with numerous organisations throughout its development.

The strategy is being launched along with the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which underpins the strategy.

The principles of the draft strategy are similar to those applied to domestic and industrial waste management across the country – Prevent, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - prior to disposal. This is in addition to maintaining high standards of health, safety, security and environmental protection.

Solid LLW has been produced by both the nuclear (power generation, decommissioning of nuclear sites and maintenance of the UK nuclear deterrent) and non-nuclear (universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical industry etc) sectors since the 1920s. LLW is made up of a wide range of materials, including plastic, paper, tissue, clothing, wood, metal and building rubble. It makes up approximately 90% of the total volume of the UK's radioactive waste – but contains less than 0.0003% of the total radioactivity.

335 million tonnes of conventional (non-radioactive) waste are generated each year. In comparison, predicted volumes of LLW are approximately 25,000 m3 per year - equivalent to just 0.0075% of conventional amounts.

At present the majority of the UK's solid low level radioactive waste from the nuclear industry is disposed of at the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) near Drigg, Cumbria.

This site has been in use since 1959 and is now close to capacity. More space is being built and there are plans for expansion in the future. But even with all of this extra capacity (potentially 700,000 m3 subject to planning and regulatory approvals) there will still be a significant shortfall compared with the amount of waste forecast to be generated over the long term (3,000,000 m3 over 120 years).

The strategy launched today looks at ways of potentially reducing the amount of waste going to LLWR through the principles of preventing, reducing, reusing and recycling in order to make best use of the available national disposal capacity at the LLWR and reduce the need for an additional national facility in the future.

This includes making the most of opportunities to reuse soil and rubble from the nuclear industry and clean and recycle metallic wastes that can be used elsewhere.

Jo Fisher, Head of Low Level Waste for the NDA, said:

"'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' is a familiar mantra for most homes now – and through the launch of this consultation we are looking at how we can apply these basic waste management principles to solid low level radioactive waste in a safe and sustainable manner". 

She continued: "We have listened to the views of the Low Level Waste Strategy Group and other stakeholders throughout – but are now keen to get feedback on the proposals from a wider audience".

"There is no doubt that space for disposing of Low Level Waste is at a premium. All of the comments received will help us to refine the strategy and develop the best possible solution for effectively managing the UK's solid low level radioactive waste now and for the future."