Gaseous, liquid and solid radioactive waste, and by extension the systems and people who handle it. Plant radwaste includes spent ion-exchange resins, filters, evaporator concentrates, contaminated tools and protective clothing. It is classified by activity and half-life into low, intermediate and high-level waste, processed by compaction, solidification or incineration, and packaged to meet shipping and disposal criteria. Minimising volume is a constant goal because disposal is expensive.
Send the spent resin to radwaste, they'll dewater it and ship it in a high-integrity container.
Packaging carried into the controlled area can leave as radwaste, so new parts are unboxed outside the RCA whenever possible.
Also heard as
- rad waste
- radioactive waste
Related terms
Clearance
The release of materials with very low radioactivity from regulatory control, so they can be reused or disposed of normally.
Decontamination
Removal of radioactive contamination from people, tools, surfaces or systems to reduce dose and spread.
Herculite
Plant slang for the heavy reinforced plastic sheeting laid on floors and over equipment in contaminated work areas.
Dry cask storage
Storage of cooled spent fuel in sealed steel canisters inside concrete or steel casks, cooled passively by air.