How is low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste managed?
The owners of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (L&ILRW) are responsible for managing the waste they produce. This usually takes place on site within its own facility. Currently, Canada does not have a long-term management facility for low- and intermediate-level waste to accept all low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. All L&ILRW in Canada is currently held on site in interim storage facilities, which are safe, secure and environmentally sound. Certain types of radioactive waste, such as that from hospitals, universities and industry, contain only small amounts of radioactive materials with short half-lives. This means that radioactivity decays away in hours or days. After safely holding the waste until the radioactivity has decayed to levels authorized by the CNSC, it can then be disposed of by conventional means (in local landfill or sewer systems).
