Storage today

Intermediate-level waste exists at Dounreay today in solid, liquid and sludge forms.

These wastes are held in a variety of facilities across the site, from historic disposal sites such as the shaft through to modern, above-ground drum stores.

The management strategy for all intermediate-level waste is to condition it for long-term storage by mixing it with cement in steel drums or boxes.

Dounreay has the capability to condition some of the liquid ILW and immobilise it with cement in 500-litre drums. This is what happens in the cementation plant.

The rest of the waste will be conditioned in a similar way between now and site closure in 2025.

Additional facilities need to be built to complete this. A major new plant is planned. In the meantime, existing stocks are retained in their present stores pending retrieval. New arisings of ILW are sorted and stored loose in drums pending their treatment.
 

 

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Image: Typical intermediate-level waste stored loose in a drum

Typical intermediate-level waste stored loose in a drum

Image: An overhead crane moves drums of cemented waste into position in the store adjoining the cementation plant

An overhead crane moves drums of cemented waste into position in the store adjoining the cementation plant