Nuclear waste comes from a number of different sources: the operation and decommissioning of nuclear power stations and fuel cycle plant; as well as from nuclear research; medical, industrial and other uses of radioisotopes, and is disposed of according to its form and the level of its radioactivity. Over 4 million cubic metres of toxic waste is produced in the UK each year, while radioactive waste amounts to only about 1% of this. The owners of radioactive waste are responsible for dealing with future waste arisings, as well as those which already exist.

The Government aims to ensure that radioactive waste is managed safely and that the present generation meets its responsibilities to future generations. Overall policy for radioactive waste management is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the devolved administrations. Other Departments such as the Department of Health (Food Standards Agency) and the Ministry of Defence also have a close interest, as does the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (HA).

DTI is primarily concerned with ensuring that the views of the nuclear and certain other industries are represented in the decision making process determining radioactive waste management policy. Below is a short account of the different categories of nuclear waste which arise from the operations of the nuclear industry: these waste are classified according to their level of radioactivity, i.e. low, intermediate or high, and its form, i.e. solid, liquid or gaseous.

Low-level liquid wastes arise from water used in cooling, cleaning and other operational processes. Low level gaseous wastes arise from nuclear plant operations and ventilation systems. Both are discharged to the environment, after treatment to reduce their radioactive content, under authorisations granted under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (RSA 93) - see below on the regulatory regime coverisng the disposal of radioactive wastes. Improvements in technology have allowed levels of radioactivity in liquid and gaseous discharges to be progressively reduced over the last 20 years. For example, as a result of investing over £750 million in new treatment plants at Sellafield, BNFL's radioactive discharges to the Irish Sea are now less than 1% of what they were in the mid 1970s.

Solid low-level waste includes slightly contaminated material such as gloves, overalls or laboratory equipment. It constitutes about 94% by volume of all radioactive waste. It is mainly disposed of, under authorisations granted under RSA93, at a 300-acre purpose built disposal facility at Drigg in Cumbria. This waste arises not only from the nuclear industry, but from many other users of radioactive substances, such as hospitals, research establishments and industry. It is packed into containers and placed in concrete-lined vaults which are subsequently sealed.

Intermediate-level waste is more active material consisting mainly of metals, with smaller quantities of organic materials, inorganic sludges, cement, graphite, glass and ceramics. Intermediate-level waste mainly arises from the dismantling and reprocessing of spent fuel and from the general operation of nuclear plants. It constitutes about 6% of all radioactive waste by volume and is currently stored, mainly at the sites of production.

Consultation on proposals for intermediate level radioactive waste substitution

Consultation paper on proposals for intermediate level radioactive waste substitution   (772Kb)

High-level, or heat generating, waste which constitutes about 0.3% by volume, arises only from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. It is stored in raw form at Sellafield and Dounreay in special tanks. It is being converted into vitrified (glass) form at Sellafield where it will be stored in purpose built facilities for at least 50 years to cool before disposal.

Until 1982, the UK disposed of some low and intermediate-level wastes in drums at selected sites in the deep ocean. This option has not been exercised since then and in 1993 the Government accepted an international ban on sea disposal of radioactive wastes.

As part of its strategy for the management of low and intermediate (but not high) level wastes, the Government gave UK Nirex the task of developing a deep underground disposal facility which would isolate the waste from the environment while its radioactivity decayed to safe levels. Nirex has carried out detailed geological studies in the vicinity of Sellafield, and in July 1994 sought planning permission to construct a Rock Characterisation Facility which would enable it to examine internally the geological strata in which it proposes to construct the disposal facility. This application was refused by the previous Government in March 1997. On 12 September 2001 the Government issued a consultation document "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely". The consultation closed for responses on 12 March 2002.