Managing radioactive waste

Drums of low level radioactive waste

The operation of ANSTO's facilities produces small amounts of radioactive waste and used fuel resulting from the OPAL research reactor. This is managed in accordance with national and international standards. A comprehensive brochure entitled, Managing radioactive waste and used reactor fuel, can be found here. You can also order a video entitled Radioactive waste in Australia by phoning (02) 9717 3770, or emailing: enquiries@ansto.gov.au.

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism provides comprehensive information about radioactive waste in Australia.

What is radioactive waste?

Radioactive waste contains radioactive elements that emit higher levels of
radiation than natural background radiation. Radioactive waste can be classified into three main categories: low, intermediate and high.

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, comprising paper, plastic, gloves, cloths and filters. This waste is shredded and compressed into 200 litre drums, which are stored on site. The radioactivity is measured using a scanning system. The drums are bar-coded and the radionuclide content of each drum is entered into a database to enable a complete record or ANSTO's wastes to be compiled and tracked (see further information below).

Intermediate level waste emits higher radiation and requires additional shielding during handling, transport and storage. A contact dose of 2mSv/h (see working with radiation) is generally used to distinguish between low and intermediate wastes. Intermediate-level waste at ANSTO is generated chiefly from radiopharmaceutical production and reactor operations. Approximately 2.5 cubic metres is generated each year.

High level waste has higher levels of radiation and requires increased shielding and isolation from the biosphere as well as cooling due to its heat-generating capacity.  Radioactivity gradually diminishes as radioactive elements decay into more stable elements, so waste gradually becomes less radioactive and safer to handle. The rate at which this happen will depend on the half-life of the individual radioactive element. ANSTO produces no high level waste.

What is used fuel?

Used nuclear fuel is a term that is used to describe fuel that has been irradiated in a nuclear reactor to the point where it is no longer useful in sustaining an economic nuclear reaction.

What sort of waste is stored at ANSTO?

Currently ANSTO stores mainly low level waste and a small amount of intermediate level waste. Used fuel from OPAL, which is not categorised as waste in Australia, will be stored at ANSTO until it is ready for shipment overseas for permanent storage, or reprocessing to remove the valuable uranium and plutonium.

Used fuel from ANSTO's previous reactors (HIFAR and Moata), has all been shipped overseas (US) for permanent storage or reprocessing (France and UK). Waste produced from the reprocessing of the used fuel will be returned to Australia as intermediate level waste after 2015. This reprocessed waste, along with ANSTO's other waste will be permanently placed in a national radioactive waste disposal facility following a site selection process by the Federal Government.

Does ANSTO manage all the radioactive waste in Australia?

ANSTO only manages and stores waste that it has generated. Waste resulting from nuclear medical treatments and industrial operations is managed by State Governments and the private operators producing the waste.

Additional resources

A good overview of the details of the types of nuclear materials that are transported and the requirements for packaging and transport can be found at the World Nuclear Association. The Australian regulations can be found on the ARPANSA site.