Policy for the long-term management of solid low level radioactive waste in the United Kingdom
Following a review of the long-term management of the UK’s solid low level radioactive waste (LLW), a revised policy statement was published on 26 March 2007:
The purpose of the policy statement is to set out principles for the long-term management of LLW.
Nuclear industry radioactive waste strategy
The policy statement required the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to develop a UK-wide strategy for the management of solid low level radioactive wastes arriving from the nuclear industry. The NDA consulted on a draft strategy 5 June – 30 November 2009 (see UK Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste from the Nuclear Industry - Draft Strategy and Strategic Environmental Assessment).
Non-nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Strategy
The policy statement, also acknowledged that a UK-wide strategy was needed for solid radioactive waste arising from the non-nuclear industry. A decision was made to split the Strategy in two parts:
- Part 1 - dealing with small users producing relatively low volume arisings of wastes containing mainly anthropogenic radionuclides (being developed by DECC); and
- Part 2 - specifically for high volume arisings of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) wastes (being developed by the Scottish Government).
A scoping report for the sustainability appraisal was produced, and an informal consultation on this report took place from 9 January to 13 February 2009.
A formal public consultation exercise was under taken on part 1 of the NNI LLW draft strategy between 7 December 2010 and 8 March 2011. More information on the consultation exercise, including the summary report, can be found on the Consultation on the strategy for the management of solid low level radioactive waste from the non-nuclear industry in the UK web page.
The UK strategy for the management of solid LLW arising from the non-nuclear industry (Part 1) was published on 12 March 2012:
The strategy is intended to:
- provide guidance and background information on this type of waste to enable planning authorities to make informed decisions on planning applications and to respond to concerns from their elected members and constituents
- clarify the respective roles of waste producers, the environment agencies, planning authorities and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to enable decisions to be made that properly recognize the responsibilities of others
- ensure that waste producers and regulators are fully aware of how the regulatory framework should be applied to LLW, particularly the need for waste management plans, waste minimisation at source and use of the waste hierarchy