Application of improved radiation monitoring and decontamination techniques to significantly reduce the cost and volume of radioactive waste via recycling

UniTech Services Group has been designing, manufacturing, and using custom radiation monitoring equipment to efficiently survey materials for recycling or reuse while significantly reducing the risk associated with traditional hand frisking. Additionally, they have developed and used custom decontamination processes that have allowed several million pounds of scaffolding and tooling to be released for unrestricted use back to the owners, or recycled as nonradioactive scrap metal. The combined effect of custom monitoring and decontamination processes has reduced significant volumes of radioactive waste in a low risk, cost effective, manner. This paper and presentation will highlight the processes and showcase the types of materials decontaminated. The intent is to make waste generators aware of new processes that could be applied to the waste materials stored in their vaults, project waste, or obsolete equipment and tooling.These processes could also help major projects control materials and equipment at reduced cost and risk. (author)