Low-Level Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal

Major national regulatory guidelines applicable to low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) disposal are implemented to protect the public health and the environment from the radioactive substances during the lifetime of the disposal facility. These guidelines translate into waste acceptance criteria i.e., physical stabilization of the waste form, containment or immobilization of the radionuclides in the waste. A waste acceptance process is enforced on LLRW generators to determine the suitability of the waste form in meeting the stabilization and immobilization criteria. This paper discusses the waste characteristics and the waste acceptance criteria for LLRW disposal. Although the figures and numbers (such as radionuclide concentrations) quoted are derived from the French practice, it is felt that the issues considered and discussed are applicable to any comprehensive cradle-tograve low-level waste management system.