Management of radioactive wastes arising from the use of Australian radioisotopes

The medical, industrial and research use of radioisotopes in Australia has given rise to approximately 30 m3 of solid radioactive waste containing about 5 TBq of radioactivity. This waste is stored at State hospitals, universities and research centres. A further 10 m3 of waste containing 300 GBq of radioactivity is stored by the Commonwealth at the St Mary's Munitions Filling factory. About 700 m3 of waste containing 1.5 PBq of radioactivity resulting from operation of the HIFAR nuclear reactor and the production of radioisotopes is in storage at the Lucas Heights Research Establishment. The source, nature and rate of arising of these wastes is reviewed, together with national developments in waste classification, storage procedures and eventual disposal. Some research at Lucas Heights on the conditioning of radioisotope waste to facilitate disposal is briefly noted