Managing radioactive waste
ANSTO places the highest priority on the safe management of its radioactive waste and used fuel.
What is radioactive waste?
Radioactive waste contains radioactive elements that send out higher levels of radiation than natural background radiation. Radioactive waste can be classified into three main categories - low, intermediate and high.
They can be explained as follows:
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Low level waste emits radiation at levels which generally require minimal shielding during handling, transport and storage.
Ninety-two per cent of the radioactive waste produced by ANSTO is low level waste, made up of paper, plastic, gloves, cloths and filters which contain small amounts of radioactivity.This waste is shredded and compressed into 200 litre drums, which are safely stored on-site.
The radioactivity is measured using a scanning system. The drums are bar-coded and the radioactive content of each drum is entered into a database to ensure that the waste is safely, securely and efficiently managed in compliance with the stringent standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Australian regulator – the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).
- Intermediate level waste emits higher levels of radiation and requires additional shielding during handling, transport and storage. A contact dose rate of 2 millisieverts per hour and above is used to distinguish between low and intermediate waste.
What is a millisievert? Visit our Glossary of Terms
See Working with radiation for more information on ANSTO's system for managing radiological safety.
Intermediate-level waste at ANSTO is generated from radiopharmaceutical production and reactor operations. Approximately 3.5 cubic metres of solid intermediate-level waste is generated each year.
- High level waste has higher levels of radiation, requires increased shielding and isolation from human contact and requires cooling due to its heat-generating capacity. It is produced from the operation of nuclear power plants. No high level waste is produced at ANSTO.
Radioactivity gradually diminishes as the radioactive elements decay into more stable elements, so waste gradually becomes less radioactive and safer to handle over time.
The period of time required for radioactive elements to decay is dependent on the half-life of the radioactive element – also known as the nuclide or isotope.
What is a half-life? Visit our Glossary of Terms
In general terms, there is an inverse relationship between half-life and radioactivity – so that long-lived radioisotopes – such as natural uranium – have very low radioactivity levels.
What is used or spent fuel?
Used fuel or spent fuel is a term used to describe nuclear fuel that has been used (irradiated) in a nuclear reactor.
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DID YOU KNOW? 92% of the waste produced by ANSTO is low level waste. ANSTO does not store any high level waste. ANSTO only manages about 40% of the low level radioactive waste in Australia. |
Managing waste at ANSTO
ANSTO has safely managed radioactive waste for over fifty years and places the highest priority on the safe management of its waste and used fuel from the OPAL research reactor. This is managed in accordance with national and international standards.
ANSTO is regulated by an independent nuclear safety regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
Internationally, Australia is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which sets international standards for the safety of waste management.
What sort of waste is stored at ANSTO?
ANSTO stores low level waste and a small amount of intermediate level waste.
What about used or spent fuel?
Used or spent fuel from the OPAL Reactor is not categorised as waste in Australia. It is stored at ANSTO until it is ready for shipment overseas for permanent storage, or for reprocessing to remove the valuable uranium and plutonium for re-use.
Used or spent fuel from ANSTO's previous reactors (HIFAR and Moata) has been shipped overseas for permanent storage in the USA and for reprocessing in France and the United Kingdom.
Waste produced from the reprocessing of the used fuel sent to France and the United Kingdom will be returned to Australia as intermediate level waste, commencing in 2015. The reprocessed waste will eventually be stored in a national radioactive waste management facility following a site selection process by the Federal Government.
Does ANSTO manage all the radioactive waste in Australia?
ANSTO is responsible for the management and storage of waste from its own operations. However, waste resulting from nuclear medical treatments and industrial operations is managed by the people who conduct these operations. ANSTO only manages about 40% of the low level radioactive waste in Australia.
All radioactive waste in Australia is managed in accordance with national and international standards.
The management of waste generated by Commonwealth bodies, including ANSTO, is regulated by an independent safety regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). State and local governments and private companies or individuals which hold radioactive waste are regulated by the local radiation protection regulator (usually an agency responsible for environmental protection or health) in each state or territory.
ANSTO publications/media
Managing radioactive waste and used reactor fuel
This publication details the stringent standards ANSTO follows to ensure the safe management of waste and reactor fuel.
Management of radioactive waste in Australia
ANSTO makes available an information paper providing a comprehensive overview of radioactive waste management:
For further enquiries:
Email: enquiries@ansto.gov.au
Phone: 9717 3770
Sources of additional information
Additional sources of information are available from: