The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Last Updated: 22 March 2011

Non-radioactive waste and non-radioactive hazardous waste is generated at NDA sites as a result of both decommissioning and operational activities. The majority is non-hazardous, for example general waste arising from site activities such as demolition rubble, packaging, paper and food waste. Hazardous waste includes the following materials: asbestos, process chemicals and oil.    

Non-radioactive and hazardous wastes generated within the nuclear sector are not substantially different from those generated by other industries and as such are managed in the same way as non radioactive and hazardous waste from other sectors.  Waste regulation and strategy is well established in the UK.  The relevant legislation operates in tiered framework, from European, to national and then local waste planning. The UK and devolved governments have developed strategies for the management of non-radioactive and hazardous wastes and are at various stages of implementing them.

Objective

To reduce waste generation and optimise management practices for non-radioactive and hazardous wastes at NDA sites.

Scope and Boundaries

The Topic Strategy for non-radioactive and hazardous waste covers the characterisation, segregation, treatment, transport and disposal of non-radioactive waste and non-radioactive hazardous waste (solid and liquid) from NDA owned sites and facilities via conventional waste management routes.  

Where mixed wastes arise, e.g. non-radioactive and radioactive waste, such materials are managed as Radioactive Waste in accordance with authorisations (Environmental Permits for England and Wales and Radioactive Substances Act authorisations in Scotland), which takes precedence over other the other waste management regulations. 

This topic strategy also includes radioactive waste that has been demonstrated as exempt from regulation under Radioactive Substances Regulation (RSA93, EPR10). Whilst such wastes remain "radioactive waste" from a regulatory perspective they are in practice managed along with non-radioactive waste.  It is this management in practice that makes such wastes suitable for inclusion in this topic strategy.

Interfaces

The non-radioactive and hazardous waste strategy interfaces with a number of other topics including:

• Decommissioning strategy, and Site end states strategy and Land quality management strategy because this will influence the quantity and timing of non-radioactive and hazardous waste that will need to be managed
• Lower Activity Wastes strategy with improved characterisation and treatment resulting in waste being re-categorised as non-radioactive hazardous wastes
• Asset management strategy which has a strong influence on the control of wastes during their management. 

Credible Options

Given the well established legislative and strategic framework for the management of these wastes, and the requirement for waste producers to implement those strategies, limited options are available.  However, for completeness we have considered the following options to further our strategic understanding:

• manage NDA directive wastes centrally
• waste managed entirely at site level (with no alignment)
• alignment of management approach through adopting common principle from national waste strategies  

There are a number of factors that have further influenced the development of the topic strategy:

• the approach will focus on the best outcome for people and the environment
• there are well developed processes and a mature supply chain for the management of these wastes outside of the nuclear industry
• the actual waste management decisions will be made by waste producers, underpinned by BAT / BPEO /BPM assessment, which are required to satisfy the regulators that a broad range of criteria and impacts have been considered in the decision making process. 

Current Position

For non-radioactive and hazardous wastes the current strategy is that NDA sites plan for the management of these wastes as part of their integrated waste planning.  Plans for managing these wastes needs to take account of national policy and strategy and be compliant with all relevant UK waste regulations relating to (non-radioactive) hazardous waste.

Mature regulation exists on waste management implemented through national strategies:

Scotland

• Waste Planning Policy is underpinned by the National Waste Management Plan for Scotland Regulations 2007 and
• Scotland's Zero Waste Plan June 2010

England

National Policy is implemented through:

• Waste Strategy for England 2007 and
• Strategy for Hazardous Waste Management in England

Wales

National policy is implemented through:

• Toward Zero Waste – One Wales: One Planet (June 2010)