Waste Classes
Waste Classes : Classes not in square brackets are those recommended in Safety Series 111-G-1.1. This classification system is organized to take into account matters considered of prime importance for disposal safety. A number of issues related to waste classification are currently under review. The other classes listed below (in square brackets) are sometimes used, e.g. in national classification systems, and are mentioned here to indicate how they typically relate to the classes from Ref.. Other systems classify waste on other bases, such as according to its origin (e.g. reactor operations waste, reprocessing waste, decommissioning waste, defence waste, etc.). Heat Generating Waste (HGW): Radioactive waste that is sufficiently radioactive that the decay heat significantly increases its temperature and the temperature of its surroundings. In practice, heat generating waste is normally high level waste, although some types of intermediate level waste may qualify as heat generating waste. High Level Waste (HLW): The radioactive liquid containing most of the fission products and actinides present in spent fuel - which forms the residue from the first solvent extraction cycle in reprocessing - and some of the associated waste streams; this material following solidification; spent fuel (if it is declared a waste); or any other waste with similar radiological characteristics. Typical characteristics of high level waste are thermal power above about 2 kW/m3 and long lived radionuclide concentrations exceeding limitations for short lived waste. High level waste Exempt waste [ILW] [LLW] Low and intermediate level waste Increasing activity concentration [HGW]: mainly HLW Radioactive Waste Intermediate Level Waste ILW: See: Low And Intermediate Level Waste (LILW). Long Lived Waste: Radioactive waste that contains significant levels of radionuclides with half-life greater than 30 years. Typical characteristics are long lived radionuclide concentrations exceeding limitations for short lived waste. Low and Intermediate Level Waste LILW: Radioactive waste with radiological characteristics between those of exempt waste and high level waste. These may be long lived waste (LILW-LL) or short lived waste (LILW-SL). Typical characteristics of LILW are activity levels above clearance levels and thermal power below about 2 kW/m3. Many States subdivide this class in other ways, for example into low level waste (LLW) and intermediate level waste (ILW) or medium level waste (MLW), often on the basis of waste acceptance requirements for near surface repositories. These terms should not be used in Agency publications unless explicit definitions are given for the purposes of the publication in question. Low Level Waste (LLW): See: Low And Intermediate Level Waste (LILW). Medium Level Waste (MLW): See: Low And Intermediate Level Waste (LILW). Short Lived Waste: Radioactive waste that does not contain significant levels of radionuclides with half-life greater than 30 years. Typical characteristics are restricted long lived radionuclide concentrations (limitation of long lived radionuclides to 4000 Bq/g in individual waste packages and to an overall average of 400 Bq/g per waste package); see paras 324 and 325 of Ref.. Very Low Level Waste VLLW: Radioactive waste considered suitable by the regulatory body for authorized disposal, subject to specified conditions, with ordinary waste in facilities not specifically designed for radioactive waste disposal. This is a category used in some Member States; in others there is no such category, as no radioactive waste at all may be disposed of in this way, however low level it is
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