Sort of radwaste from nuclear power plants

Breakdown of radwaste according to its activity and decay half-time

   
Besides spent nuclear fuel, among high-level active radwaste from nuclear power plants can be included mainly some activated reactor parts such as shielding assemblies, connecting rods, dry channels, various parts of the reactor protection system, and so on (solid metal radwaste). Also a part of this category are concentrated residues for example from evaporation station (liquid radwaste), certain ionexes, special cooling fluids (chrompik at the A-1 plant) and a particular group will consist of high-level active radwaste generated during plant commissioning (high-level active reactor parts).
     

Among medium-level active radwaste belong medium-level active aerosol filters and a part of solid waste, a small part of concentrated residues for example from the evaporation station (liquid radwaste) and others.
   

  
Low-level active radwaste that represents the largest amount is soft waste, low-level active aerosol filters, a part of hard waste, and the largest part is liquid radwaste.
    

The following outline of data for the estimated amount of radwaste relates to the nuclear cycle worldwide. More than 360 thousands m3 of low-level active radwaste is produced per year, more than 26 thousands m3 of medium-level active waste, and more than 3 thousands m3 of high-level activity (without spent nuclear fuel). More than 17 thousands ton of spent fuel is produced per year which roughly represents the volume of about 3 to 4 thousands m3. The production of spent nuclear fuel thus represents about 1% of the volume of all radwaste worldwide, but achieves more than 90% of the total radioactivity.
   

According to the decay half-time of prevailing radionuclides, except spent nuclear fuel, a small part of solid metal and liquid radwaste, and certain other high-level active radwaste which are managed during plant decommissioning, essentially all other radioactive waste can be considered as short-lived one with the longest time of danger of the magnitude of a few hundreds up to a few thousands years.