Waste management within the framework of ITER in Cadarache

Abstract International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will produce wastes both from operational activities (component replacements, process and housekeeping wastes) as well as from the decommissioning phase. Within the location of ITER in a specific site, it is necessary to review all the wastes and to determine which repository is available depending on the host country regulation criteria. The aim of this paper is, firstly, a waste classification as a function of the French categories and, secondly, the definition of the associated waste management strategy. This strategy is based on medium activity and long lived waste reduction, using, if necessary, decontamination, detritiation or radioactive decay. The 32 000 tons of wastes produced during operation (7%) and decommissioning (93%) are then distributed in 58% of very low activity wastes, 32% of low and medium activity with short half life wastes and 10% of medium activity and long half life wastes. According to the current 1-D activation calculations, all the by-products of the ITER machine are manageable. Nevertheless, mixed wastes remain an important issue since toxic elements associated with nuclear wastes, such as irradiated beryllium wastes, have to be considered. A specific packaging for these wastes is being studied. The technical processes used during the operation and the de-activation periods, for decommissioning and in particular cutting, removal, cleaning operations …, are also an important issue since the classification of waste packages will depend on guarantees provided by the process as for example demonstrations on waste contamination, waste beryllium rate … Medium activity and long half life wastes are the most severe ones, independently of the chosen host country, because they require the most stringent disposal and, consequently, have a great impact on cost.