Appendix 3

Radioactive waste classification

As outlined in the Code of Practice for the Near Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Australia 1992. [1]

Category A covers solid waste with radioactive constituents, mainly beta or gamma emitting radionuclides, whose half lives are considerably shorter than the institutional control period. The radioactivity will decay substantially during this period. Long-lived alpha emitting radionuclides should only be present at very low concentrations. This category of waste will comprise, predominantly, lightly contaminated or activated items such as paper, cardboard, plastics, rags, protective clothing, glassware, laboratory trash or equipment, certain consumer products and industrial tools or equipment. It may also comprise lightly contaminated bulk waste from mineral processing or lightly contaminated soils.

Category B covers solid waste and shielded sources with considerably higher activities of beta or gamma emitting radionuclides than category A waste. Long lived alpha emitting radionuclides should be at relatively low levels. This category of waste will comprise, typically, gauges and sealed sources used in the industry, medical diagnostic and therapeutic sources or devices, and small items of contaminated equipment.

Category C covers solid waste containing alpha, beta or gamma emitting radionuclides with activity concentrations similar to those for Category B. However, this waste typically will comprise bulk materials such as those arising from downstream processing of radioactive minerals, significantly contaminated soils or large individual items of contaminated plant or equipment for which conditioning would prove to be impractical.

Radioactive waste which does not meet quantitative and qualitative criteria in this code shall not be approved by the appropriate authority as suitable for near surface disposal. Therefore a fourth category, Category S, shall be designated as follows:

Category S covers waste that does not meet the specifications of categories A,B or C. Typically, this category will comprise sealed sources, gauges or bulk waste which contains radionuclides at higher concentrations than are allowable under categories A, B or C.

Waste within Category S shall be unacceptable for near surface disposal and shall be retained in storage until an alternative disposal method is available.

Footnotes

[1] Submission No.30, Appendix B, p.14.