The Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) stated its plan to apply a holistic, sustainable approach in organising its future activities in the RWMC statement [NEA/RWM(2016)7/REV1].
Using a holistic, sustainable approach to manage radioactive waste will ensure that the RWMC will be able to identify its activities systematically. The concept of sustainable development essentially comprises three constituents (Fig. 1):
Fig. 1 Scheme of holistic approach
The three constituents: environment, economy and society are applicable to the overall radioactive waste management process from generation to disposal or in other words “from the cradle to the grave” (Fig. 2). It is also envisaged that the radioactive waste management system must be embedded in national legislative, regulatory and organisational frameworks.
The radioactive waste pathway (Fig. 2) entails a comprehensive transfer of knowledge, information and liabilities from generation to disposal of waste. In the same manner, new knowledge and information gained at each stage in the path serve to inform decisions of the previous stages, i.e. upstream information flow. In developing these stages, key elements such as infrastructure and materials management, safety and security, monitoring, funding and licensing, procedural ownership and liabilities and sustainability, should be considered.
The holistic approach will optimise the RMWC activities by identifying synergies and commonalities between the existing groups and allows outstanding work areas to be identified and prioritized. This approach also addresses emerging issues that assist NEA member countries in the development of safe, sustainable and broadly acceptable strategies for waste management.
Fig. 2 The overall radioactive waste management path from generation to disposal of waste
Last updated: 13 May 2019
