Pretreatment works for disposal of radioactive wastes produced by research activities. Part 1

Radioactive isotope, nuclear fuel material and radiation generators are utilized in research institutes, universities, hospitals, private enterprises, etc. As a result, various low-level radioactive wastes (hereinafter referred to as 'non-nuclear radioactive wastes') are produced. Disposal site for non-nuclear radioactive wastes have not been settled yet and those wastes are stored in storage facilities of each operator for a long period. The Advanced Volume Reduction Facilities (AVRF) are built to produce waste packages so that they satisfy requirements for shallow underground disposal. In the AVRF, low-level beta-gamma solid radioactive wastes produced in the Nuclear Science Research Institute are mainly treated. To produce waste packages meeting requirements for disposal safely and efficiently, it is necessary to cut large radioactive wastes into pieces of suitable size and segregate those depending on their types of material. This report summarizes activities of pretreatment to dispose of non-nuclear radioactive wastes in the AVRF. (author)