Radioactive waste

• Declaring the waste in electronic form
• Use waste declaration numbers 3831-2 (non-landfillable waste) or 3831-1 (landfillable waste)
• Print the form and attach it to the waste

• If  the waste can achieve decay within a year, the waste must be stored in an approved room at UiB, the waste must not be sent as radioactive waste, but as problematic waste. Based on calculations of required storage time, it will be possible at UiB to leave F-18, P-32  and I-124 to decay and then disposed of as problem waste /hazardous waste.
• If the waste is to be sent to Senja or IFE, UiB must declare the waste in "avfallsdeklarering.no".
  • Before shipment, the person responsible for the waste room must write the 9-digit declaration number on the waste container, as well as the nuclide and the activity on the waste.
  • Non-disposal waste may, by agreement with waste reception, be sent to Senja Avfall
  • Waste subject to landfill must, by agreement with waste reception, be sent to the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE)
  • Contact  the central radiation protection coordinator before shipment to arrange with the waste reception and assistance in completing the declaration form
• In order to declare hazardous waste and radioactive waste through "Avfallsdeklarering.no", you need a user account. Contact the central radiation protection coordinator via UiBHjelp - get help.

It is not permitted to dilute radioactive waste to fall below the values given in the  Regulations relating to radioactive pollution and radioactive waste, Appendix 1.

Waste that is considered radioactive waste must be sent to waste reception facilities at least once a year. UiB recommends that radioactive waste is sent to waste reception facilities early in the autum so that declaration and disposal are ready well before the end of the year.

Table 1. Limit values for waste and transport.

Photo:

www.uib.no

Can be sent to Senja Avfall by agreement.

• Contact person at Senja Avfall: Mads Løvås, mads@senja-avfall.no
• Transport is agreed with the company with which UiB has a framework agreement for waste management
• The transport takes place as an exception bag, remember to remove the stickers on the black waste containers
• Mark the boxes with UN number "UN 2910", 9-digit declaration number, and print and let the waste declaration accompany the transport

Can be sent to IFE by agreement.

• Contact person at IFE is Espen Thorvaldsen, Espen-Thorvaldsen@ife.no
• Transport is agreed with the company with which UiB has a framework agreement for waste management
• Transport takes place as hazardous waste, class 7 - Radioactive waste
• Mark the boxes with 9-digit declaration numbers, print out and let the waste declaration accompany the transport

Landfill waste below the limit value:

• May be sent as an exception if the maximum dose rate on the surface of the parcel does not exceed 5 μSv/h. Remember to remove the sticker on the black waste containers.
• The boxes are marked with UN number "UN 2910", name of recipient and sender, weight and 9-digit declaration sums

Landfill waste above the limit value:

• The item must be marked with "UN2915" (open source) or "UN3332" (encapsulated source)
• Label the item with the radionuclide, total activity (MBq, GBQ, etc)
• Transport index (dose rate of 1 m distance / 10 = transport index (TI))
• The waste declaration must be included
• Waybill with sender, recipient, number of bags, recipient's contact person

• Waste that should be left to decay. This is radioactive waste that can appropriately obtain background radiation within one year. For calculations of decay waste that stands to decay – see separate procedure.
• Landfill waste given in the "Regulations relating to the application of the Pollution Control Act to radioactive pollution and radioactive waste" (NO only).
• Waste that is not subject to landfill pursuant to the "Regulations relating to the application of the Pollution Control Act to radioactive pollution and radioactive waste" (NO only).

The table in the Regulations, Annex I, letter b, sets out limit values for total activity (Bq)  per year and for specific activity (Bq/g) for each nuclide. The waste is subject to landfill if BOTH limit values are equalled or exceeded.

The radioactive waste must be delivered to approved reception at least one time per year.

Biological material containing nuclides

In the case of animal carcasses, parts of animals or tissues injected with radioactive nuclides, it is the activity or activity concentration of the nuclide that determines which waste category is to be used. It is important to note that the biological material must not be larger than that it fits in the black waste container and that this can easily be lifted.

Emissions to air and water

All discharges to water (sewage) and air must have approval from the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. UiB wants to minimise emissions of radioactive compounds. If anyone needs an emission permit, they must contact the unit's local radiation protection coordinator, who in cooperation with the central radiation protection coordinator at UiB must apply to the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Preparedness Agency for an emission permit.

This is radioactive waste that can appropriately obtain background radiation within one year. At UiB it will be possible to leave F-18, P-32 and I-124 for decay and then dispose of as problematic waste/hazardous waste. For accurate calculation of decay in waste – see separate procedure (NO only).

NB! Radioactive waste that must be left to decay must not be stored in black waste containers. They must be stored in yellow containers for problematic waste and stored until they achieve decay. It is then sent as problematic waste.

This is waste from solid material that has been in contact with the nuclide, such as gloves, paper, counting glasses, bottles, etc.

Users shall ensure that the solutions are stored in suitably tight packaging or in tight counting glasses.

Note that each plastic container should be labelled with:

• Currently nuclides
• Activity in the plastic container
• Date when the plastic container was set to decay
• Signature

Users must ensure that the black waste container is closed and labelled and is stored in an approved waste room/laboratory.

If the estimated storage time of the radioactive waste is less than one year, the waste is not considered radioactive and can be delivered for incineration as problematic waste.

Water-soluble samples and compounds can be collected in tight, suitable bottles or counting glasses. The bottles can be set to decay behind suitable shielding in a marked area for work with open beam sources.

If the estimated storage time of the radioactive waste is less than one year, the waste is not considered radioactive and can be delivered for incineration as problem waste. If the solution does not contain hazardous chemicals or environmentally harmful substances, it can be poured into the sink.

The waste consists of both solid (used paper, gloves and other solid material that has been in contact with the nuclide) and liquid (solutions, filtrate and scintillation samples) material. The waste must be declared using  the Declaration form for hazardous waste at UiB. The form should be printed and fixed on the waste container.

The waste must be continuously packed and packaged in black containers. In general, the various nuclides must be kept separate from each other, and one must at all times have an overview of the activity or activity concentration of the waste in the individual plastic container.

When sending waste below the exemption limits, the user must contact the local radiation protection coordinator or contact person for waste at the unit.

1. The local radiation protection coordinator must log in to the Avfallsdeklarering.no and complete the declaration form. The 9-digit declaration number must be noted on each of the black waste containers.

1. UiB must clarify with Senja/IFE who can accept the waste. The central radiation protection coordinator can assist with this.
2. The local radiation protection coordinator must log in to Avfallsdeklarering.no and fill in the declaration form. The central radiation protection coordinator can assist with this. Then the 9-digit declaration number must be noted on each of the black waste containers.
3. Then contact the BIR by e-mail bedrift@bir.no and mark the subject field with "Radioactive waste", and request that the waste be picked up and transported to Senja or IFE, respectively. Here it is important that you inform about: 
   • Name and telephone number of contact person (local radiation protection coordinator or waste manager) 
   • Which nuclide(s) to retrieve 
   • Number of black waste containers 
   • Nuclide and activity distributed on each carton 
   • Total activity on the broadcast, possibly value according to summation rule 
   • 9-digit declaration number
4. The waste station (BiR) contacts the orderer and agrees a pick-up location and time.
5. Arranges meetings with the transporter at the agreed location and delivers the waste.

Summation formula

Whether the waste is above or below the exemption limits is determined by the amount or concentration of activity for individual nuclides. For waste, it is the activity concentration/amount for each substance that determines whether the waste is above or below the exemption limit. The sum of the ratio of the total amount of activity for each nuclide to the corresponding limit value shall be less than or equal to 1.

Example:

• If the waste contains two different radionuclides, both of which have a limit value of 10 Bq/g, the sum of these shall not exceed the limit value. This means that if one nuclide is 4 Bq/g, the other must not exceed 6 Bq/g.
• If the waste contains three or more nuclides, all of which have a limit value of 10 Bq/g, the sum of these shall not exceed 10 Bq/g.
• If the waste has two different radionuclides where one a) has a limit value of 10,000 Bq and the other b) of 100,000 Bq where a) has an activity load of 8,000 Bq, the ratio between the total amount of activity and the limit value for a) will be 0.8. The sum of these two ratios shall be less or equal to 1. In such cases, the ratio between the total amount of activity and the threshold value for b) must not exceed 0.2. This means that the maximum amount of activity in b) can be 20,000 Bq.

If you are unsure about the calculation, contact the local radiation protection coordinator or contact person for waste at the unit or the radiation protection coordinator for UiB at the HSE and emergency preparedness group.

These are material where the ativity is subject to disposal pursuant to the "Regulations relating to the application of the Pollution Control Act to radioactive pollution and radioactive waste" (NO only) and which cannot appropriately obtain background radiation within 1 year. All this material must be sent to Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Kjeller.

The user contacts the unit's contact person for waste or the local radiation protection coordinator. The waste must be declared on UiB's internal declaration form, and in "Avfallsdeklarering.no". Contact the central radiation protection coordinator regarding questions about access to Avfallsdeklarering.no.

Waste that is considered radioactive waste shall be sent to a waste reception facility at least once a year. UiB recommends that radioactive waste is sent to waste reception facilities in early autumn so that declaration and disposal are ready well before the end of the year.

1. The local radiation protection coordinator must log in to the Avfallsdeklarering.no and complete the declaration form. The 9-digit declaration number must be noted on each of the black waste containers.

1. UiB must clarify with IFE that they can accept the waste. The central radiation protection coordinator can assist with this.
2. The local radiation protection coordinator must log in to Avfallsdeklarering.no and fill in the declaration form. The central radiation protection coordinator can assist with this. Then the 9-digit declaration number must be noted on each of the black waste containers.
3. Then contact the BIR by e-mail bedrift@bir.no and mark the subject field with "Radioactive waste", and request that the waste be picked up and transported to IFE. Here it is important that you inform about: 
   • Name and telephone number of contact person (local radiation protection coordinator or waste manager) 
   • Which nuclide(s) to retrieve 
   • Number of black waste containers 
   • Nuclide and activity distributed on each carton 
   • Total activity on the broadcast, possibly value according to summation rule 
   • 9-digit declaration number
4. The waste station (BiR) contacts the orderer and agrees a pick-up location and time.
5. Arranges meetings with the transporter at the agreed location and delivers the waste.

The waste must be labelled in line with the activity at the sources. Encapsulated radiation sources that cannot be returned to the supplier, but are to be disposed of, must be sent to IFE. You must use UiB's declaration form in addition to registering the waste on Avfallsdeklarering.no. In addition, one must use a separate form that must be completed and sent to IFE before sending the waste. Contact the central radiation protection coordinator before waste is sent to IFE.

Note that for encapsulated sources that have been given a notification number in the electronic notification system to the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, one must send a disposal notification. Contact your local radiation protection coordinator at the unit.