Number of questions: [2]
 |
Posted on 24/01/2007 15:12:52 |
|
Hello, I would like to ask what do the developed countries do with their nuclear waste. Do they keep it or do they export it somewhere? thank you.
|
|
Viktoria
|
|
Thanks Viktoria
The nuclear and radioactive waste management work to well-established safety standards for the management of radioactive waste, including safe disposal practices. Generally, short-lived intermediate-level wastes are buried, while long-lived intermediate-level wastes will be disposed of deep underground. Low-level wastes are disposed of in shallow burial sites.
International and regional organizations such as the IAEA, OECD/NEA, EC and ICRP develop standards, guidelines and recommendations under a framework of co-operation to assist countries in establishing and maintaining national standards. National policies, legislation and regulations are all developed from these internationally agreed standards, guidelines and recommendations. Amongst others, these standards aim to ensure the protection of the public and the environment, both now and into the future.
International agreements in the form of Conventions have also been established such as the "Joint Convention on Nuclear Safety" and the "Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management". The latter was adopted in 1997 by a diplomatic conference convened by the International Atomic Energy Agency and came into force in June 2001 following the required number of ratifications.
Other International Conventions and Directives seek to provide for inter alia, the safe transportation of radioactive material, protection of the environment (including the marine environment) from radioactive waste and the control of imports and exports of radioactive waste and transboundary movements.
|
|
Posted on 24/01/2007 09:47:35 |
Dear Basel,
In my work place, my company has several staff houses and as a member of health and safety committee the issue of waste management has been complex to us. There are lots of waste generated from the houses e.g food waste, empty bottles (from drugs,care products, perfumes) plastic containers, polythenes, metals, electronic waste. My question is how do we best manage these type of waste generated from the office and the staff houses?
|
|
Benjamin Komen
|
|
Dear Benjamin:
This can be done indeed by addressing the root cause of your waste problem and by emphasizing the notion of “Cradle-To-Grave” approach of integrated waste management system. This includes a hierarchy elements of prevention, reduction/reuse & recycle (3Rs), treatment, and sound disposal.
1) Pollution Prevention, or at source waste minimization in quantity or toxicity;
2) 3Rs (Reduction, Reuse & Recycle), or resource conservation, and environmentally sound reuse and recycling, and energy recovery;
3) Sound Treatment; and Safe Disposal.
Overall the wastes prevention to be emphasized to reduce the amount, hazard character or energy content of products or materials before they enter the waste stream. Waste prevention is thus distinct from recycling and other waste management efforts which are applied only when products and materials are recognized as waste. Treatment & disposal should be the last options.
As waste prevention is considered the preferred approach, purchasing policy of the office shall be re-visited in order to buy environmentally friendly materials (natural rather than synthetic, biodegradable, reusable, recyclable…etc.). Also, an environmental management system shall also be pursued in the office in order to conduct wastes survey & estimation, move towards cleaner production (paperless procedures, less use of chemicals & hazardous materials), to separate wastes streams at the source (paper, plastic, chemical, inert, food…etc., recyclables & non-recyclables and/or hazardous & non-hazardous) and to catalyze reuse & recycling practices. Specific and time-bound goals can be sought to reduce the amount (and pollution potential) of wastes generated. An awareness raising campaign shall also be pursued and incentives put in-place to reward “good behaviors”.
Good Luck...
|
|
