Waste sources and classification

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the various sources of radioactive wastes, their classification, and the way they are conditioned for disposal. It also examines issues that are of interest in a broader environmental context. Without a proper understanding of radioactive wastes—namely, their chemical, physical, and radiological properties—it is not possible to correctly design a repository, or to assess the safety of any proposed facility for the handling, storage, or disposal of these materials. Without a reasonable inventory that bounds the waste types to be disposed in a planned repository, some of the waste may not meet the repository acceptance criteria, and hence not be placed in a given repository. One of the basic requirements for a disposal program is the creation of an inventory that documents all radioactive wastes that are expected to arise for disposal. The requirements for such an inventory are also discussed in the chapter.