Wastes

Low-level waste

Low-level wastes from nuclear power plants include slightly contaminated paper, rags, tools, protective clothing, water purification filters and wastes from water cooling systems.

Utilities reduce the volume of this waste through incineration, compacting and operating efficiencies. After placing this waste in special shipping packages, they store this material in sealed and shielded containers on the reactor site.

There are about 1.8 million cubic metres of this waste in Canada. Nuclear power plants, the largest source of low-level radioactive wastes, produce about 2,440 cubic metres of low-level waste each year. Other waste producers include nuclear research organizations, nuclear fuel manufacturers and the producers and users of medical and other radioisotopes.

Nuclear power plants produce almost 80 per cent of the 5,770 cubic metres of low-level radioactive wastes produced each year in Canada.