Radioactive waste disposal reaches final stage

The Government organisation, Nuclear Waste Services, begins the final capping of historic trenches and vaults at the Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria, UK.

Capping is a key part of the disposal process, and helps to permanently protect people and the environment.

It involves placing a new membrane (or protective layer), up to 10m thick, over the legacy disposal trenches. Other construction materials are added as it progresses towards the final cap. The Southern Trenches, located near Drigg village, are the first to begin this process.

The site’s tradition of low-level radioactive waste disposal dates back to 1959, with waste being placed in lined tranches. Fast forward to the 1990s, concrete vaults were used before moving on to specially designed metal containers that were placed in the engineered vaults at the Repository.

Providing transport for the thousands of tonnes of materials is key. Nuclear Waste Services is collaborating with Nuclear Transport Solutions to provide adequate rail arrangements.

Both the Nuclear Waste Services and the Nuclear Transport Solutions are subsidiaries of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Civil Engineering firm GRAHAM Construction, starts work this month, with major works commencing in February 2025.