Treatment and Packaging
Treatment and packaging are two separate but important parts of the waste lifecycle. We’re looking to reduce waste volumes and ideally reuse and recycle – helping us to achieve value for money alongside the safe management of radioactive waste. As we move forward with decommissioning we are looking at innovative ways to treat bulk or problematic wastes like asbestos and metals.
Treatment
We treat the waste to either avoid disposing of it or to minimise the volume going for disposal. As a result, in 2022-23 we safely diverted huge volumes of nuclear waste away from disposal at our Repository site. This has been achieved through a range of characterisation and treatment services, ensuring that only wastes which require the protection of an engineered vault are disposed of at our site and saving taxpayers millions of pounds.
Packaging
We’re creating containers fit for the job. This means safe, secure containment through all phases of the waste management lifecycle. The design or selection process is underpinned by government policy, legislation, and strategy, and is influenced by a variety of factors including the characteristics of the waste, as well as the proposed approach to waste treatment, storage, and disposal.
Creating a one-stop shop
1689te
The amount of metallic waste that was treated in 2022-23, with 98% released for recycling
5,179
The number of drums we made in 2022-23, along with 57 containers and 766 soft-sided packages- all licensed and certified for radioactive waste
1st
We’re investing in our expertise for the future. Our Waste Expert Career Pathway has been accredited by the CIWM – a first for the nuclear industry
