|
|
|
|
|
An objective of
The UK Nuclear Industry LLW Management Plan is to identify and share
waste minimisation practices in order to minimise the burden on the environment
from disposal of radioactive wastes at the Low Level Waste Repository
(LLWR). In addition to minimising waste
disposals to the LLWR, the use of recycled materials rather than virgin
resources is preferable because it saves energy, reduces emissions of
greenhouse gases and other air and water pollutants and of course conserves
natural resources.
Within the UK nuclear industry we are
working together through the members of the Environment Agencies' Requirements
Working Group (EARWG) to improve our
understanding of the successes, challenges and barriers that have influenced
the application of Solid Low Level Waste (LLW) and Very Low Level Waste (VLLW)
re-use and recycling strategies. By sharing experiences whilst implementing
re-use and recycling strategies we hope to facilitate the expansion of waste
re-use and recycling practices and the use of recycled materials back into the
nuclear industry.
Identifying and Sharing Good
Practices in Solid Re-Use and Recycling
The purpose of this webpage is to
identify and share good practices in re-using and recycling solid radioactive
waste consistently across the industry. This supports the UK Nuclear Industry
National LLW Management Plan Re-use and Recycling
(RR1) Initiative.
The Best Practice
in Waste Minimisation contains around 65 solid waste minimisation
techniques. These techniques should be applied so that the solid material is
dealt with at the highest practicable level of the waste hierarchy. Application
of the waste minimisation techniques within the nuclear industry is heavily
dependent upon the lifecycle costs, availability of services, environmental
impact, sustainability appraisal and compliance with the regulatory regime.
There are a number of factors, including economic, regulatory and availability
that make the re-use and recycling of materials previously classified as solid
radioactive waste a challenging task. We are liaising with EARWG members to
gather case study information on the success of solid LLW and VLLW re-use and
recycling strategies. This information will be published here in due course.
Of the solid waste techniques detailed
in the Best Practice in Waste Minimisation Database two-thirds are classified
as segregation and decontamination techniques.
Segregation by material type is
necessary to obtain a sufficiently pure materials stream to enable a material
to be recycled. Segregation by decontamination or physical removal may enable
radioactive material to be removed from the bulk of low radioactivity material
(i.e. high volume low activity or exempt material). This means that only a
relatively small volume of material needs to be classified as radioactive
waste, whilst the bulk of the low radioactivity material has the potential to
be re-used or recycled. There is a range of physical, chemical, electrochemical
and dismantling techniques that result in the segregation of solid material
detailed in the Best Practice in Waste Minimisation.
Once a pure solid material stream is
segregated and characterised it has the potential to be re-used and/or recycled
within the nuclear industry. There is only one solid waste technique detailed
in the Best Practice in Waste Minimisation Database that is classified as LLW
and VLLW re-use and/or recycling techniques: metal melting. The
LLWR has
recently introduced metal melting as a new service. The primary aim of metal
melting is reduction of waste volume by releasing a significant proportion of
the material for recycling. Recycled metal has been re-used internationally in
the nuclear industry as shielding or disposal containers.
As we gain more knowledge in re-use and
recycling through sharing operational experiences we hope to expand the Best
Practice in Waste Minimisation Database accordingly.
The following national organisations
promote good practices in material re-use and recycling:
Committee on Radioactive Waste
Management(CORWM):
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA):
Health and Safety Executive (HSE):
Royal Society of Chemistry:
|
|
|
|
|