Table 8.1. Waste Types(a) - STD-1128-98master0226

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

Table 8.1. Waste Types(a)

High-level waste (HLW) is the material that remains following the reprocessing

HLW

of spent nuclear fuel and irradiated targets from reactors. The HLW is highly

radioactive and generates heat on its own. Some of its elements will remain

radioactive for thousands of years. Because of this, HLW must be managed very

carefully and all handling must be performed from behind heavy protective

shielding.

Low-level waste (LLW) is any radioactive waste that is not HLW, spent nuclear

LLW

fuel, TRU waste, or uranium mill tailings. The LLW is typically contaminated

with small amounts of radioactivity dispensed in large amounts of material. The

LLW is generated in every process involving radioactive materials in the DOE

including decontamination and decommissioning projects.

Mixed waste (MW) is waste that contains both radioactive and hazardous wastes.

Any of the types of radioactive waste described can be a mixed waste if it

contains any hazardous wastes. In fact, all of DOE's HLW is mixed waste

because of the chemicals used to reprocess the fuel that resulted in the generation

of the material or because it is suspected to contain hazardous materials.

Transuranic (TRU) waste refers to waste materials containing elements with

TRU

atomic numbers greater than 92. These elements are generally alpha-emitting

radionuclides that decay slowly. The TRU waste contains a concentration of

these elements greater than 100 nCi/g. The TRU waste is not as intensely

radioactive as HLW. The TRU waste also decays slowly, requiring long-term

isolation.

Sanitary waste is waste that is neither hazardous nor radioactive.

Sanitary Waste

Because of its quantity, concentration, and physical, chemical, or infectious

Hazardous

characteristics, hazardous waste may cause or significantly contribute to an

Waste

increase in mortality, or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating

reversible illness; it may pose a potential hazard to human health or the

environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or

otherwise managed.

8-2