Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
What is Radioactive Waste?
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) Regulatory Policy Managing Radioactive Waste, defines radioactive waste as any material (liquid, gaseous or solid) that contains a radioactive nuclear substance, as defined in section 2 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act that the owner has no foreseen use and is determined to be a waste product.
Because of the wide variety of nuclear applications, the amounts, types and even physical forms of radioactive wastes vary considerably, from mops, equipment parts to used nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants. Some waste, like used nuclear fuel, can remain radioactive for hundreds or thousands of years, while others may require storage for only a short decay period prior to its safe release to conventional waste disposal.
Radioactive waste from past practices
Radioactive waste has been produced in Canada since the early 1930’s when the first radium and uranium mine began operating at Port Radium, Northwest Territories. Pitchblende ore was transported to Port Hope, Ontario, where it was refined to produce radium for medical purposes and, later, uranium for nuclear fuel and military applications. Some of the waste generated during this period is classified as historic low-level radioactive waste or legacy waste.
Historic low-level radioactive waste is radioactive waste that was managed in the past in a manner that is no longer considered acceptable with modern practices and standards and for which the current owner cannot reasonably be held responsible and the Government of Canada has accepted responsibility. The Government of Canada is responsible for the long-term management of historic waste sites across the country to reduce the already low risk to the public and environment, through the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Office, operated by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL). Legacy waste dates back to the Cold War and birth of nuclear technologies in Canada and are primarily located at AECL sites.
Radioactive waste from today’s nuclear industry
As Canada’s demand for energy grew, 22 nuclear power reactors, at five locations across Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick were constructed during the 1970’s and 80’s. Most of the radioactivity in nuclear waste in Canada comes in the form of used nuclear fuel from the production of nuclear energy. Radioactive waste is also generated as a result of the various stages and uses associated with the nuclear fuel cycle:
- Uranium mining / milling
- Uranium refining and conversion
- Nuclear fuel fabrication
- Nuclear power plants
- Prototype reactors
- Nuclear research and test establishment facilities
- Radioisotope manufacturers and users (ex. universities, hospitals, industry)
- Decommissioning of nuclear facilities
