NDA Radioactive Waste Strategy
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The NDA has now published the final version of the Radioactive Waste Strategy which was issued for consultation in July 2018.
This updated document takes account of comments received during the 12-week consultation period, which concluded in October 2018.
We committed to developing a single radioactive waste strategy for the NDA group in our 2016 Strategy document, with an overall objective:
‘To manage radioactive waste and dispose of it where possible, or place it in safe, secure and suitable storage, ensuring the delivery of UK and devolved administration policies’
The new strategy applies to all solid radioactive waste generated across NDA sites.
The management of radioactive waste is critical for the successful completion of the NDA mission to deliver safe, sustainable and publicly acceptable solutions to the challenge of nuclear clean-up and waste management.
NDA is the UK’s leading strategic authority in radioactive waste management. Over 90% of the UK’s radioactive waste will be generated by the NDA estate and we also own the majority of significant radioactive waste management infrastructure. Any opportunities to drive efficiencies or optimisation to reduce the length of the mission could realise significant savings.
Our aim is to provide a high-level framework that will enable more flexible decision-making, to ensure safe, environmentally acceptable and cost-effective solutions which reflect the diverse nature of our radioactive waste inventory. Our strategy considers each stage in the management of radioactive waste:
- planning and preparation
- treatment and packaging
- storage
- disposal
The benefits of this single strategy include:
- greater opportunities to optimise the management of wastes, significantly reducing costs and schedules
- clear articulation of our strategic needs for solid radioactive wastes
- risk-informed identification of the most appropriate waste management route with greater emphasis on the nature of the waste rather than classification
- the mechanism to create a single integrated waste management programme, reducing duplication of effort
- opportunities to develop robust, sustainable waste infrastructure at the most appropriate time
The development of the NDA’s Radioactive Waste Strategy, and its more integrated approach to waste management, also contributes to the Government’s Industrial Strategy - Nuclear Sector Deal.
This deal calls for a National Decommissioning and Waste Management Pipeline to give a comprehensive UK-wide view of major decommissioning and waste management.
Detail of feedback received
We would like to thank all those who provided responses to the consultation. We received 19 sets of comments which were useful and helped us shape the final version of the document.
We were encouraged by the support for our revised approach to radioactive waste management and by the level of detail provided in the comments.
Original consultation
Consultation description
In the NDA’s 2016 Strategy we made a commitment to develop a single radioactive waste strategy for the NDA group.
We are now seeking views on this single radioactive waste strategy that will apply to all radioactive waste generated within the NDA group, including materials that may become waste at some point in the future.
The radioactive waste strategy provides:
- a framework for making decisions flexibly, to ensure safe, environmentally acceptable and cost-effective solutions that reflect the nature of the radioactive waste concerned
- a consolidated position and greater clarity of our strategic needs in this area
- promotes cross-category waste management opportunities
- support a risk-based approach to waste management
- an integrated programme for a suitable and timely waste management infrastructure to support the NDA mission
The development of the NDA’s Radioactive Waste Strategy, and the integrated approach to waste management it supports, is an important input into the government’s Industrial Strategy - Nuclear Sector Deal.
Supporting the government's Industrial Strategy
This deal calls for a National Decommissioning and Waste Management Pipeline to give a truly comprehensive view of all major decommissioning and waste management activity across the country. This should promote economic growth through enhanced awareness in the supply chain of opportunities, provide greater resilience in the UK infrastructure and opportunities for inward investment and growth.
The strategy articulates our preferences against each of the waste management lifecycle stages:
- planning and preparation
- treatment and packaging
- storage
- disposal
Documents
Updates to this page
Last updated 19 November 2020 + show all updates
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'Integrated Waste Management Programme: an overview' document uploaded
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Final version published
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Summary of detail received published.
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First published.