Nuclear Sustainability Services: Waste Minimization

Abstract

In 2020, the decision was made not to proceed with a Low & Intermediate Level Deep Geological Repository at Ontario Power Generation – leaving the question, what next? OPG’s Nuclear Sustainability Services (NSS) reflected on our strengths and the future of nuclear in Ontario and developed a strategy focused on renewing our commitment to waste minimization. By embracing and optimizing the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – we will reduce our low level waste interim storage footprint.

There are a number of initiatives that NSS is pursuing to increase processing, reduce stored volumes and maximize recycling. We are sorting and segregating the legacy low level waste to ensure that we compact, incinerate and free release as much as possible. This leverages our existing capabilities and will result in reduced stored volumes. We are developing resin processing capability with vendor partners to not only reduce the volume of intermediate level waste but also reduce our Carbon-14 emissions. Another major undertaking is metal segmentation and decontamination. Large metal objects currently in storage are large in volume but relatively low in radioactivity (such as steam generators and heat exchangers). We will process our metal materials using segmentation, decontamination and recycling to achieve a large metal volume reduction.

These initiatives, as well as many more, are underway to bring NSS to a place where waste volumes are minimized, and we are prepared for a long term disposal solution. Less waste benefits the whole nuclear industry as we show nuclear energy is a viable, reliable and clean-energy source for Ontario, Canada and globally.