Reviewed 1/23/25

      Generators of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) face a financial challenge when dealing with the disposal of radioactive waste.  All LLRW that is to be buried at designated special LLRW landfills is assessed by weight, in addition to the transportation and disposal charges.

      It is important to reduce the volume of such waste as much as possible. 

      A number of suggestions are listed below.  We recognize each laboratory may have unique waste problems and we will work with you as needed.

1. Purchase only the amount of radionuclide you need.

2. Substitute short-lived radionuclides for longer-lived ones now in use.  This would allow for more use of in-house decay.

3. Consolidate radioactive work areas, reduce the size of and carefully delineate boundaries of such areas.  This would tend to reduce the amount of protective covering, etc., needed to protect work surfaces.

4. Review procedures in order to look for areas where LLRW production might be reduced.

5. Implement a careful monitoring program where all waste items are checked for contamination.  Only waste items actually containing radioactive material are to be considered LLRW.

 

6. When using Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC), change to “biodegradable”  LSC fluids.

7. Use equipment that can evaluate smaller vials in order to reduce total volume of scintillation fluid.