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 the final phase of a nuclear power plant lifetime and are an essential part of an effective nuclear safety culture. While some countries are implementing nuclear exit strategies and others are building new nuclear power plants or prolonging their lifetimes, the 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 the majority of the waste mass resulting from decommissioning and dismantling is radiologically unrestricted material i.e. exempt waste. The remaining one-third is the radioactive material with difierent levels of radioactivity. To present radioactive metal scrap recycling in practice, this paper addresses estimations on metal waste amounts resulting from decommissioning, the use of melting as a possible recycling method (with regard to secondary waste generated) and aspects of environmental and health impacts. Additionally, the best practice example of the decommissioning process in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) with NPP technology is given to provide context for the possible future decommissioning of NPP Krško. After consideration of the 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 the complexity and potential of decommissioning and provide a basis for future actions.