Most decommissioning material is recyclable
There are significant differences in the materials generated during the operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. This also applies to EnBW’s nuclear power plants. In fact, only a very small portion of the total material volume is radioactive waste. In contrast, a very large portion of the material consists of recyclable materials that can be reused. This recycling is even required by law.
A key factor is the careful categorization of materials, ensuring that each substance ultimately follows the correct, legally mandated disposal route. This ranges from government-operated final storage facilities to conventional recycling. Safety is also the top priority throughout this entire process, which is further subject to government oversight.
An overview of the most important categories
The most important and fundamental distinction is whether the material is radioactive waste or non-radioactive residues and waste. The chart shows the respective subcategories and their share of the total mass at a nuclear power plant. Since our five nuclear power plants differ in design, there are some percentage ranges - each plant is different.
There are two main categories of non-radioactive residues and waste:
- Waste requiring specific approval
This consists of non-radioactive waste that is primarily disposed of in landfills.
- Recyclables and conventional residues
Most of these materials can be returned to the conventional recycling cycle. The vast majority of the decommissioning waste falls into this category!
Radioactive waste can also be divided into two main categories:
- Highly radioactive heat-generating waste
These are primarily spent fuel assemblies originating from the operational phase of nuclear power plants, but they are not decommissioning waste. This category is therefore not relevant for decommissioning. The spent fuel assemblies are safely packaged, transferred to state-run interim storage facilities, and later transported to the state-run final repository. - Low- to intermediate-level radioactive waste
This includes, for example, operational waste and waste generated during decommissioning. One example is a plant’s reactor pressure vessel (RPV). It also includes waste remaining after the processing of contaminated residues
The interim and final storage of radioactive waste is the responsibility of the state
Responsibility for the interim and final storage of radioactive waste lies with the state and is therefore beyond the influence of nuclear power plant operators. However, these operators - including EnBW - play a significant role in financing storage and have contributed approximately 24 billion euros from their respective provisions to the state-run “Fund for the Financing of Nuclear Waste Management.” As part of this reorganization of nuclear waste management, both the interim storage facilities for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste in Neckarwestheim, Obrigheim, and Philippsburg, as well as the interim storage facilities for spent fuel in Neckarwestheim and Philippsburg operated by, have been transferred from EnBW to the state-owned BGZ Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung mbH.