Chapter 8 - Case studies on the practices and advances in legacy waste management

Abstract

Legacy wastes have been stored in different storage areas/facilities in different countries. Some of these wastes were treated, conditioned, and stored waiting for the availability of a suitable disposal facility. Others are stored without treatment and/or conditioning. These wastes need to be managed according to the current regulations and in compliance with national, regional, and international commitments. Efforts have been launched to manage these wastes in a manner that reduces their radiological risks and subsequently, their environmental impacts. Of the challenges that face the management of these wastes, their characterization and retrieval from the storage facilities are important topics to ensure their safe management. This chapter presents some case studies that reflect some of the conducted efforts to characterize these wastes and their retrieval. In addition, some case studies will address the processing/treatment of these wastes. In this regard, the selected case studies were chosen to highlight some aspects of the practice in different storage facilities and the efforts to increase the technology readiness level and their potential application in some legacy waste facilities.