Technical Meeting on the Characterization of Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste is generated from the operation of nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel cycle facilities and from the use of radionuclides in research, health care, accelerators and industrial applications. Depending on the origin, radioactive waste can be of different types covering a wide range of radiological, physical and chemical properties. Characterization of radioactive waste involves determination of these properties and plays important roles at various stages of their safe management from generation up to disposal. For example, it can help to establish the appropriate treatment and/or conditioning needed, to provide information needed for process control, and to provide assurance that the waste form or waste package will meet the waste acceptance criteria for the processing, storage, transport and disposal of the waste.The characterization of radioactive waste and waste packages plays an important role during the different stages of the predisposal management of radioactive waste. By understanding the characteristics of such waste, it is possible to establish the necessary adjustment, treatment, conditioning or suitability for further handling, processing, transport, storage or disposal. Waste characterization involves all aspects related to the physical, chemical and radiological properties of the waste.Therefore, the safe management and disposal of radioactive waste is, in part, reliant upon its accurate and quality-assured characterization by non-destructive and destructive methods, and upon determination of the radionuclide inventory. Relevant procedures, standards, laboratory and routine industrial practices have been developed and refined over the years by Member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with mature operating nuclear facilities and laboratories.However, several Member States with less developed programmes do not have such facilities and laboratories. For these countries, establishing fit-for-purpose characterization programmes is a complex technical challenge requiring both intellectual and financial resources.Over the past decade significant progress has been achieved in the development of waste characterization, control procedures and equipment as a direct response to ever-increasing requirements for quality and reliability of information on waste characteristics. However, some aspects of radioactive waste characterization remain challenging, such as the estimation of the activity of long lived, difficult-to-measure radionuclides, adequate sampling methodologies, refining the characterization method, improving the interpretation of the analysis data to achieve more accurate results, presence of non-radiological hazardous toxic materials, the development of scaling factors adapted to the specificity of waste streams, and the characterization of waste for the verification of waste activity before clearance.This event is being organized by the IAEA as part of the activities planned within the framework of the IAEA’s International Network of Laboratories for Nuclear Waste Characterization (LABONET) in order to increase efficiency in sharing international experience in the application of proven, quality-assured practices for the characterization of radioactive waste and waste packages. The exchange of information and best practices in the operation of characterization laboratories is expected to underpin both public and regulatory confidence in the secure management and responsible storage and disposal of radioactive waste.The purpose of the event is for members of the International Network of Laboratories for Nuclear Waste Characterization to share and discuss good practices, lessons learned, innovations and challenges in the characterization of radioactive waste.The meeting will provide a forum for the exchange of information and discussions on good practices, latest developments, chal