The management of radioactive wastes

In order to manage radioactive wastes, whether they are gases, liquids or solids one has to take decisions on several key points. For example, whether to disperse them in the atmosphere or the sea or to isolate them from Man; whether to process a sludge by dewatering; whether to remove activity from a solid waste, thus producing a secondary waste. These and many other decisions about treatment, packaging, storage and disposal have to be taken on the basis of sound technical information and taking account of national and international laws and regulations. But it is not sufficient just to manage waste efficiently, it is also essential to respond to the natural concern of the general public and to satisfy them and their political representatives that wastes are and will be managed safely. This article describes the quantities of wastes, their origin and classification, the legislative background and how wastes are managed at present. This is an international subject but it is described here largely from a United Kingdom point of view.