Radioactive incinerator ash - a mixed waste?

There has been a change in Ontario Hydro's low and intermediate level radioactive waste management program strategy. Rather than early disposal of waste, the plan now is to store it for an extended period (100+years) which would result in a significant portion of the waste being declassified allowing disposal as non-radioactive waste. This scenario however raises the concern that the waste may release conventional chemically hazardous materials under sanitary landfill conditions and thus further conditioning to deal with this aspect may be required. Radioactive incinerator ash has been extensively characterized with respect to both radiochemical and chemical constituents as well as leachable species. The data is compared to existing Ontario environmental regulations and the implications for conventional disposal discussed. (orig.)