Hypercompaction produces major cost and safety benefits in processing metallic LLW

This paper is about reducing the waste disposal costs of metallic LLW, and possibly of some ILW. Burial of metallic LLW is often the most practical means of disposition. Free release is likely to become more difficult and expensive. The paper shows how the costs of size reduction, packing, surveying, and transportation, as well as burial costs, are all reduced by HyperCompaction. This is a novel variant of scrap processing technology which differs from current compactors in the nuclear industry. These are typically single-stage presses, compacting sacrificial containers filled with light, very compactable materials. By contrast, HyperCompactors are high force baler/shears, with capacious charging boxes capable of accepting metallic wastes direct from dismantling, and using multi-stage compaction to produce high density slabs. Four case studies are presented, considering LLW from gaseous diffusion plant decommissioning, LLW from a nuclear power plant, NORM/TENORM material, and Pu-contaminated glove boxes. In all four cases, HyperCompaction drives down the costs associated with dismantling, waste processing and waste disposal. It also reduces hazards to workers, the public and the environment. (orig.)