METAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING METHODS IN THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DECOMMISSIONING AND DISMANTLING PROCESS

Abstract

Decommissioning and dismantlement of nuclear power plants (NPP) present a final phase of the nuclear power plant lifetime and essential part of an effective nuclear safety culture. While some countries are implementing nuclear exit strategies and other building new nuclear power plants or prolonging their lifetimes, decommissioning of facilities is imminent. This paper gives a short overview on decommissioning and dismantling strategies and techniques as an introduction to the applicability of radioactive metal waste recycling and reuse. General estimations suggest that majority of the waste mass resulting from decommissioning and dismantling is radiologically unrestricted material. Remaining one-third is the radioactive material with different ranges of radioactivity. To present radioactive metal scrap recycling in practice, paper addresses estimations on metal waste amounts resulting from decommissioning, use of melting as a possible recycling method (with regard to secondary waste generated) and aspects of environmental and health impacts. Additionally, a best practice example of decommissioning process in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology NPP is given to provide context for possible future decommissioning of NPP Krško. After consideration of available data on decommissioning waste management, the conclusion is that while the decision on decommissioning strategies and technologies is not straightforward but unique to each country, current experiences give important context to complexity and potential of decommissioning and provide a basis for future actions.

Keywords

• nuclear power plants
• decommissioning and dismantling
• metal recycling
• waste management