MANAGEMENT OF DECOMMISSIONING WASTES: THE MANAGEMENT OF HIGH ACTIVE WASTE AND THE RECYCLING OF LOW ACTIVE METALS AND CONCRETE

The dismantling of a nuclear facility creates a great variety of materials that have to be removed from the site. The materials vary by their physical characteristics (concrete, liquids, carbon steel, plastics,...), radiochemical characteristics (activation products, contam ination from fuel leakages, isotope vector..) and geometrical form (tubes, valves, tanks,...). For the management of these materials, the dismantler has the choice between several routes, each with their own and sometimes overlapping requirements. These routes are nuclear waste, industrial waste, recycling for reuse in the nuclear industry or recycling in the non nuclear industry (free release). This great variety of materials, the different routes with their overlapping requirements and the used decontamination techniques for decategorisation of the materials, lead to a complex management of these materials. SCK•CEN started the dismantling of the BR3 PWR research reactor in 1989 and has therefore yet several years of experience with this complex materials management. High level radioactive waste disposal and recycling of decontaminated materials are important issues for the public and hence for the dismantler. Therefore this paper will highlight SCK•CEN's experiences in three areas of this materials management: the management of high and medium active waste, the recycling of radioactiv