Chapter 1 - Preamble

Section 1 - Social & Economic Dimensions

Section 2 - Conservation and Management of Resources
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22

Section 3 - Strengthening the Role of Major Groups

Section 4 - Means of Implementation

Complete text of Agenda 21: Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Managing Radioactive Wastes

Given their potential risks, the safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes, including their minimization, transportation and disposal, is important.

The radiological and safety risk from radioactive wastes varies from very low for short-lived, low-level wastes to very great for high-level wastes. Every year, nuclear power production creates about 200,000 cubic metres of low-level and intermediate-level waste and 10,000 cubic metres of high-level waste and used nuclear fuel. The amount of such waste is increasing as more nuclear power plants start up, and others are shut down.

The use of radioactive substances in medicine, research and industry produces much smaller amounts of waste: typically some tens of cubic metres or less per year per country, but the use of radioactive substances is growing, and so is the waste. Stringent measures are needed to see that it does not cause harm.

Countries should cooperate with international organizations to:

• Promote ways of minimizing and limiting the creation of radioactive wastes.
• Provide for the safe storage, processing, conditioning, transportation and disposal of such wastes.
• Provide developing countries with technical assistance to help them deal with wastes, or make it easier for such countries to return used radioactive material to suppliers.
• Promote the proper planning of safe and environmentally sound ways of managing radioactive wastes, possibly including assessment of the environmental impact.
• Strengthen efforts to implement the Code of Practice on the Transboundary Movements of Radioactive Waste, and consider whether there should be a legally binding agreement.
• Encourage work to finish studies on whether the current voluntary moratorium on disposal of low-level radioactive wastes at sea should be replaced by a ban.
• Not promote or allow storage or disposal of radioactive wastes near seacoasts or open seas, unless it is clear that this does not create an unacceptable risk to people and the marine environment.
• Not export radioactive wastes to countries that prohibit the import of such wastes.

It is important to provide training and financial support to developing countries that have nuclear programmes.

The costs to each country of managing and disposing of radioactive waste are high, and will vary according to the technology used.

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