Mixed Waste - doe-hdbk-1106-97

DOE-HDBK-1106-97

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

E. Mixed Waste

Reference: Stevens (1994)

Mixed waste is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to

dispose of at this time. Currently, DOE has a self-imposed

moratorium on the off-site shipment of RCRA/TSCA waste

suspected of having radioactivity. This moratorium was

instituted by the DOE Office of Waste Management (EM-

30).

1. The EM-30 Performance Objective (PO) for Certification

of Non-radioactive Hazardous Wastes was developed in

1991 and is currently under revision. This PO was

developed to guide DOE sites in addressing the issue of

hazardous waste that contains added radioactivity.

2. Ways to avoid generating mixed waste:

Use non-hazardous cleaning materials for

decontamination whenever possible.

Segregate "radioactive only" from "hazardous only"

at the source.

Explore the use of other materials that are non-

hazardous for use in radiological areas to prevent the

generation of mixed waste.

Discontinue use of non-biodegradable (organic

solvent based) liquid scintillation media.

Biodegradable liquid scintillation media are

available.