RSRL Integrated Waste Strategy - Issue 5- Oct 2012.pdf

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED6.1.3 Low Level Waste229. Low level waste (LLW) on the Harwell site consists of:• solid waste routinely consigned to the LLWR,• waste sent off-site for incineration and• low level waste suitable for landfill including high volume very low level wasteThe strategy is to minimise the production of LLW by application of the waste hierarchy.Examples include:• the decontamination of lead, by planing, to reuse or recycle;• the use of characterisation techniques to enable wastes to be characterised asexempt (‘out of scope’) waste;• the use of a “blast and vacuum” technique to decontaminate the surface of a buildingand• the use of the abrasive cleaning machine at Winfrith (WACM) to decontaminatemetal for recycling.230. Estimates of current stocks and future arisings of LLW are given below.LLWOperational LLW stocks andarisings (0.4 - 4,000Bq/g alpha and0.4 - 12,000Bq/g beta/gamma)Arising /UnprocessedVolume m 3PackagedVolumem 3Legacy LETP Sludges 0 0Decommissioning LLW arisings(0.4 - 4,000Bq/g alpha and0.4 - 12,000Bq/g beta/gamma)Strategy1651 3210 Disposal to LLWR. Volumes aftersegregation of exempt (out of scope)waste.All sludges have been processed anddisposed to LLWR8,464 16,542 Disposal to LLWR. Volumes aftersegregation of exempt (out of scope)waste.Graphite 0.4 - 4Bq/g 0 N/A All sent for Incineration.Oils / Solvents 0.4 - 4Bq/g 1 N/A Incineration.Low Level Waste to Landfillup to 200Bq/gVery Low Level Waste0.4 - 40Bq/g24,148 N/A Off-site disposal to permitted landfill.Building rubble and soil too radioactivefor reuse.231. The volumes of LLW reported above assume that all exempt (‘out of scope’) waste hasbeen segregated from the LLW sent to the LLWR. The exempt (‘out of scope’) waste ischaracterised and consigned in compliance with the Nuclear Industry Code of Practice onClearance and Exemption.232. RSRL is developing alternative routes for LLW in accordance with the actions listed inthe Joint Waste Management Plan. Of particular interest are off-site treatment routes forsegregated metals and combustible materials. RSRL is currently exploring the option ofsmelting metallic LLW and have identified some drums of suitable waste at Winfrith forwhich LLWR have quoted for treatment overseas. Transfer of this waste via the LLWRframework supplier contract is due to take place by the end of 2012. A route for disposal ofVLLW and LA-LLW at an off-site landfill have been in place for Harwell waste since March2012 and RSRL is working to establish this route for Winfrith wastes as well.RSRL IWS (Issue 5 – October 2012)68