1. BASIC PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE Module XIX Waste management Case Studies
Version 1.0, May 2015
This material was prepared by the IAEA and co-funded by the European Union. 

2. IAEA Waste classification system
Description
Class of radioactive waste
Waste with levels of activity concentration slightly above the levels specified for the clearance, waste containing naturally occurring radionuclides, originating from the mining or processing of ores and minerals.
Contains such small concentrations of radionuclides that it does not require provisions for radiation protection.
Waste that requires shielding but needs little or no provision for heat dissipation.
Contains such large concentrations of both short and long lived radionuclides and a greater degree of containment and isolation from the accessible environment is needed to ensure long term safety.
Contains only radionuclides of very short half-life with activity concentrations above the clearance levels, can be stored until the activity has fallen beneath the levels for clearance.
Waste that contains long lived radionuclides in quantities that need a greater degree of containment and isolation from the biosphere than is provided by near surface disposal.
Fill the table with next 6 classes of radioactive waste:
Exempt waste (EW),
Very short lived waste (VSLW),
Very low level waste (VLLW),
Low level waste (LLW),
Intermediate level waste (ILW),
High level waste (HLW).
Waste with levels of activity concentration slightly above the levels specified for the clearance, waste containing naturally occurring radionuclides, originating from the mining or processing of ores and minerals - very low level waste.
Contains such small concentrations of radionuclides that it does not require provisions for radiation protection - exempt waste.
Waste that requires shielding but needs little or no provision for heat dissipation - low level waste.
Contains such large concentrations of both short and long lived radionuclides and a greater degree of containment and isolation from the accessible environment is needed to ensure long term safety - high level waste.
Contains only radionuclides of very short half-life with activity concentrations above the clearance levels, can be stored until the activity has fallen beneath the levels for clearance - very short lived waste.
Waste that contains long lived radionuclides in quantities that need a greater degree of containment and isolation from the biosphere than is provided by near surface disposal - intermediate level waste.

3. Different waste classification systems
Three different waste classification systems are described in the table. Determine in which countries each waste classification system is used:
Majority of countries,
Germany,
USA.
Description of waste classification
Country
Categorisation system which is basically subdivided into: Heat-generating radioactive waste and Radioactive waste with negligible heat generation.
IAEA classification of 6 classes.
Wastes are separated broadly into high-level or low-level waste. Classification of low level radioactive waste: Class A, Class B, Class C and waste that is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal.
Description of waste classification - Country
Categorisation system which is basically subdivided into: Heat-generating radioactive waste and Radioactive waste with negligible heat generation. - Germany.
IAEA classification of 6 classes. - Majority of countries
Wastes are separated broadly into high-level or low-level waste. Classification of low level radioactive waste: Class A, Class B, Class C and waste that is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal. – USA.

4. Nature and sources of radioactive waste
Characteristics of different waste are given in the table. Fill the table and determine characteristics of:
waste from mining and minerals processing,
waste from nuclear power plants,
waste from research reactors,
waste from industrial use of radioisotopes.
Characteristics
Waste
Relatively large amounts of materials that contain uranium or thorium in small quantities.
Volume of radioactive waste generated from these activities is small but the levels of activity concentration may be significant, usually contain large and highly concentrated amount of single radionuclide.
Owing to its level of activity concentration and to the half-lives of the radionuclides, it does not meet the waste acceptance criteria of near surface disposal facilities.
Contains significant amounts of fissile materials, other actinides and fission products. It generates significant heat when freshly removed from the reactor.
Characteristics - waste
Relatively large amounts of materials that contain uranium or thorium in small quantities - waste from mining and minerals processing
Volume of radioactive waste generated from these activities is small but the levels of activity concentration may be significant, usually contain large and highly concentrated amount of single radionuclide - waste from industrial use of radioisotopes
Owing to its level of activity concentration and to the half-lives of the radionuclides, it does not meet the waste acceptance criteria of near surface disposal facilities - waste from research reactors
Contains significant amounts of fissile materials, other actinides and fission products. It generates significant heat when freshly removed from the reactor - waste from nuclear power plants

5. Waste treatment techniques
For which radioactive waste next waste treatment techniques are used: dry solid, wet solid or liquid radioactive waste.
Waste treatment techniques
Dry solid, wet solid or liquid radioactive waste
Segmentation
Polymer fixation
Osmosis or reverse osmosis
Bituminisation
Ion Exchange
Compaction
Incineration
Evaporation
Vitrification
Cementation
Waste treatment techniques: Dry solid, wet solid or liquid radioactive waste
Segmentation - dry solid
Polymer fixation - wet solid
Osmosis or reverse osmosis - liquid
Bituminisation - wet solid
Ion Exchange - liquid
Compaction - dry solid
Incineration - dry solid
Evaporation - liquid
Vitrification - dry solid
Cementation - wet solid

6. Disposal facilities
Different disposal facilities are given in the table below. Determine in which disposal facility are disposed:
high-level and long-lived radioactive waste,
very low level radioactive waste (VLLW) with low concentrations or quantities of radioactive content,
LLW and short-lived ILW.
Disposal facility
Type of radioactive waste
Near-surface disposal facility
Deep geological disposal facility
Specific landfill disposal facility
Disposal facility - Type of radioactive waste
Near-surface disposal facilities - LLW and short-lived ILW
Deep geological disposal facility - high-level and long-lived radioactive waste
Specific landfill disposal facility - very low level radioactive waste (VLLW) with low concentrations or quantities of radioactive content
The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.