Babcock & RSRL achieve key milestone in nuclear waste

An important milestone has been achieved by Babcock (the parent body organisation) and RSRL in the retrieval and processing of legacy waste as part of the decommissioning programme at Harwell, the UK's first nuclear site, with the processing of the 5000^th waste canister.

Dealing with legacy waste is a central part of the site programme at Harwell, where new facilities are being provided to improve the throughput and effectiveness of retrieving and repackaging historic Intermediate Level Waste (ILW). 

Remote handled ILW operations in the Solid Waste Complex include retrieval of historic waste from underground 'tube' stores where it has been since the 1950s, using a waste retrieval machine (RM2 - a 240-tonne, fully shielded and contained movable cell).  The waste is transferred for processing through the Head End Cells (where it is assayed, decanted and examined) and re-packaging into 500 litre drums, or canisters, approved by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) for storage in the Vault Store. 

The processing of the 5,000^th waste canister represents a notable landmark.  It follows the introduction of an efficiency programme* in 2006 which has seen a significant year-on-year increase in the number of cans processed - rising from around 350 per annum in 2003 when processing through the Head End Cells began, to almost double that figure.  A base target has been set by the NDA of 591 cans (which is currently on-schedule to be achieved), and a stretch target of 650 for the current year.

Following the 5000^th can milestone, over 6,000 more cans are to be processed through the facility before the plant completes its purpose in around 2025.

This latest waste processing achievement follows another milestone achieved in March this year, when the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) issued a variation to remove part of the Eastern Area Facility at Harwell from the Nuclear Site Licence.  RSRL is now working with the NDA to de-designate this area, enabling it to be released for future development.  The achievement is tangible evidence of the progress being made towards the long-term vision to release the Harwell site from nuclear licence.

Alan Neal, RSRL Managing Director, commented: "Delicensing by the NII and de-designation by the NDA demonstrates that our work is done on this part of the site.  The land can now be re-used without any concern about its previous history.  This is a very real achievement and the culmination of many years of hard work."