RADIOACTIVE-WASTE MANAGEMENT - THE INTERNATIONAL APPROACH

This paper gives an overview of actual developments in radioactive waste management. The trends in waste generation show that the specific amounts of waste are decreasing. A big nuclear power plant generates the comparably small waste package volume of about 237 m3 per year, including all wastes from fuel production to decommissioning of the reactor. The scientific and ethical issues of radioactive waste management are well addressed in the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the ongoing development of international consensus documents in the Radioactive Waste Safety Standards Programme of the IAEA. Short-lived low and intermediate level waste is usually disposed of in near-surface facilities. Deep geological facilities for all types of radioactive waste, in particular for long-lived low and intermediate level waste and high level waste, are being planned. Sites are under investigation and in the licensing process.