|
THE
ORCBS > Radiation
Safety
> Radiation
Safety Manual
>
 Disposal
of Radioactive Waste
The ORCBS has developed
a manual entitled Michigan
State University Waste Disposal Guide. This manual describes the
requirements and specific procedures for correctly managing and disposing
of hazardous waste, including radioactive, chemical, biological and
pathological waste. Please use this guide when preparing waste for
disposal. All radioactive waste shall be separated from non-radioactive
waste. Under no circumstances is it permissible to dispose of any
radioactive material into the non-radioactive trash or into any drains.
The issue of
radioactive waste disposal is very complex, due not only to the
radioactive nature of the waste and its inherent disposal problems,
but also the recent concerns with the chemical hazards associated
with the same waste. Hence, it is possible to have mixed waste,
which contains not only radioactive waste, but RCRA (Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act) hazardous chemical waste. Liquid scintillation
vials are an example, because the toluene is hazardous under the
RCRA laws, due to flammability. Resultantly, radioactive waste
must be properly manifested for the isotope and activity, and any
other hazardous constituents, including chemical or biohazardous
components. Complete waste disposal instructions may be found
in the Michigan
State University Waste Disposal Guide.
Radioactive
waste must be completely labeled at all times, from the time it
is deposited into a container until final disposal. Records of radioactive
waste disposal must be maintained by the university for NRC review,
so this labeling or "manifesting" is critical. Tags must
be completely filled out at all times after any radioactive waste
is placed in the container. (Note: The radiation warning label and
certain other information on the tag must be present according to
NRC law.)
The ORCBS supplies
the solid and liquid waste containers to laboratories upon request.
It is the responsibility of the laboratory to supply secondary containers,
such as a plastic bus tray, to prevent the waste from leaking or
contaminating the surfaces . Laboratories must supply their own
shielding for waste that may cause external exposures to workers
in the area.
Bench top waste
containers are considered part of the experiment, and must be labeled
with the isotope, activity in DPM or uCi and the date. It is not
necessary to attach a waste tag until the waste is placed in the
permanent waste container.
In order to
dispose of waste under the current regulatory constraints, it is
necessary to segregate all radioisotopes from each other (except
3H and 14C), and to segregate chemically hazardous
waste from other radioactive waste.
Solid radioactive
waste presents a particular problem in Michigan; the State of Michigan
was denied access to solid radioactive waste repositories for five
years, beginning in 1990. Therefore, it is prudent that workers
only place waste which is actually contaminated with radiation in
the radioactive waste containers. This can be achieved by carefully
monitoring potential radioactive waste with an appropriate survey
meter prior to disposal.
Since radioactive
waste must be stored for some period of time prior to disposal,
it is critical that the date(s) the waste was deposited in the container
be present; radioactive decay is one means of effectively managing
and minimizing radioactive waste.
Due to the problems
in radioactive waste management and legal requirements, no radioactive
waste may be removed from the laboratory without the complete information
on the tag. Chronic failure to thoroughly manifest radioactive waste
may result in suspension of permission to use radioactive materials.
Quantifying
Levels of Radioactivity in Waste
Radiation
Safety Manual Table of Contents
|
