Waste Minimization - doe-std-1136-20040188

DOE-STD-1136-2004

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiation Protection in Uranium Facilities

ensuring that existing system/equipment replacement or modification is designed and

installed to min imize generation of waste,

developing new waste -minimization strategies and identifying cognizant staff for waste

minimization communications between facility personnel, and

identifying new waste -generating facilities or activities and significant process changes

to existing facilities or activities to the waste characterization and waste -minimization

organization.

Waste volume control, or waste minimization, involves limiting the amount of material that

becomes contaminated, segregating clean and contaminated material, and prolonging the useful life of

equipment and material to minimize replacement. Sometimes, materials can be completely cleaned so

that disposal as sanitary waste (or refurbishment in clean areas) is an option.

Program design decisions can affect uranium waste-generation. For example, the quantity of

protective clothing may be a significant factor. If an incinerator is available, combustible protective

clothing may be selected to have a low ash content and generate a minimum of harmful effluents, such as

oxides of nitrogen or halogenated compounds. In other facilities, water-washable, reusable protective

clothing may minimize waste disposal.

In many nuclear facilities, contamination of packaging materials is a problem. For example, if a

tool or material (e.g., a pump or some ion exchange resin) is to be used in a contaminated area, as much of

the packaging material must be removed as possible before the material enters the radiological area.

Another opportunity for waste minimization occurs when materials are used as a contingency

protection against contamination. For example, strippable coatings may be applied to an area that is not

expected to become contaminated or may receive only minor contamination so that it can be easily

cleaned. Another example involves disposable surgeons' gloves, which are routinely worn inside glove-

box gloves. Unless there are serious contamination control problems in the facility, these can be surveyed

and disposed of as sanitary waste rather than LLW or TRU waste.

If a piece of equipment is to have more than a single use in a contaminated environment, every

possible measure should be taken to ensure its continued reliability rather than relying on frequent

replacements. Tools should be of the highest quality and maximum flexibility consistent with the situation.

For example, if a wrench is needed to maintain a piece of equipment in a glove-box, consideration should

be given to future needs and storage provisions. A socket set with interchangeable sockets may ultimately

create less waste than a box-end wrench of each size that is needed.

Likewise, all tools and equipment to be placed in a contaminated environment should be tested

for reliability and preferably used on a clean mock-up to ensure their serviceability before they become

contaminated in order to avoid unnecessary waste volume.

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