Benefits of Adopting a Very Low-Level Waste Classification to the Management of Decommissioning Waste

Abstract

The decommissioning of a nuclear generating station is expected to produce large quantities of radioactive waste including significant quantities of slightly contaminated concrete and metals. Managing this Very Low-Level Waste (VLLW) separately from the other Low- and Intermediate- Level Wastes (L&ILW) generated over the course of the decommissioning could reduce the cost of the overall project. The potential benefits were examined using a preliminary waste inventory for a typical CANDU 6 plant that was developed as part of a previous COG project. A range of possible definitions of VLLW were considered. Depending on the definition of VLLW that is adopted, the results suggest that as much as 50% of the LLW could be classified as VLLW and managed in near surface facilities that are similar in design to currently operating hazardous waste management facilities. The potential benefits to decommissioning from managing slightly contaminated wastes as VLLW to decommissioning and the possible means of implementing this approach will be discussed.