National Inventories and Management Strategies for Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive
Waste
Methodology for Common Presentation of Data
Radioactive waste inventory data are an important element in the development of a
national radioactive waste management programme since these data affect the design
and selection of the ultimate disposal methods. Inventory data are generally presented
as an amount of radioactive waste under various waste classes, according to the waste
classification scheme developed and adopted by the country or national programme in
question. Various waste classification schemes have thus evolved in most countries,
and these schemes classify radioactive waste according to its origin, to criteria
related to the protection of workers or to the physical, chemical and radiological
properties of the waste and the planned disposal method(s).
The diversity in classification schemes across countries has restricted the possibility
of comparing waste inventories and led to difficulties in interpreting waste management
practices, both nationally and internationally. To help improve this situation, the
Nuclear Energy Agency proposed to develop a methodology that would ensure consistency
of national radioactive waste inventory data when presenting them in a common scheme.
This report provides such a methodology and presenting scheme for spent nuclear fuel
and for waste arising from reprocessing. The extension of the methodology and presenting
scheme to other types of radioactive waste and corresponding management strategies
is envisaged in a second phase.
Published on September 22, 2016
In series:Radioactive Waste Managementview more titles