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

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED7.1.4 Other Solid Radioactive Waste7.1.4.1 Sodium and Mercury325. Approximately 25 tonnes of bulk sodium metal, in a variety of sealed packages, rangingfrom a few kilos on mass to several tonnes, has been stored on the Dragon ReactorComplex. Following the completion of a BAT assessment (ref. A1141/RPT/0006) during2011, the methodology for processing this waste has been finalised. The packages arebeing opened in a dry, dehumidified atmosphere where the sodium is retrieved in 10kgaliquots and placed in double polyethylene bags and vacuum packed. These are placed intolarger bags which are nitrogen purged and in turn placed into Intermediate Bulk Containers(IBCs). Sampling has shown the sodium to be below exempt (out of scope) levels howeversome of the packaging is classed as radioactive waste. The sodium is being transferred offsitefor incineration.326. Small quantities of mercury are expected to arise during decommissioning operations.Items will be monitored and sent to a specialist contractor for disposal at a hazardous landfillafter first consolidation with any similar materials from Harwell. In the site waste BPEOstudy, re-use was identified as the preferred option for mercury. However it would benecessary to secure a third party willing to accept the material for re-use hence the fallbackoption of disposal at a hazardous landfill will continue. Contaminated mercury is identifiedas an orphan waste by LLWR and development of a route for this waste is currently anaction under the National Waste Programme.7.1.4.2 RSRL Tenanted Liability Wastes327. There are some waste items on the Winfrith site which are an agreed RSRL liability butare currently held or operated by a site tenant. These include some tritium wastecomprising 15 neutron generators, which will be de-tritiated and the residue disposed of viaALES. Solid wastes will be sent to the LLWR as LLW.328. Some items of SAFER equipment are still in use and will not be disposed of until the endof the current lease agreement. It is proposed that the majority of the work will be carriedout by the tenant using their existing plant and equipment. The proposed processingmethodology and disposal routes are both well established and currently in use.7.2 Radioactive Discharges7.2.1 Liquid Discharges7.2.1.1 Liquid LLW Discharges329. Radioactive liquid waste generated at Winfrith includes:• Liquid foul effluent• Active process effluent• Tritiated groundwater• LLW organic liquids330. The treatment arrangements for these wastes are described below. There are interfacesbetween the management strategies for the liquid foul and active process effluent, howeverthe tritiated groundwater and the LLW organic liquids are managed independently of theother liquid waste streams.RSRL IWS (Issue 5 – October 2012)90