International Atomic Energy Agency
Published: 2006
Total Pages: 72
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The main objective of radioactive waste management is to protect people and their environment from the potential harmful effects of radioactive waste and to minimize the burden for future generations. Safe disposal of conditioned radioactive waste is considered the final step of waste management. Waste acceptance requirements, consistent with a disposal concept, should be defined either by national authorities or repository operators with the aim of meeting the safety goal of radioactive waste disposal. A waste package is designed as an engineered component for ensuring the safe management of radioactive waste. It represents a principal unit used as a reference for controlling information and making decisions with due consideration to interdependencies of various steps in radioactive waste management. Converting waste acceptance requirements into waste package specifications is, therefore, an important but complicated procedure with great effects and consequences that may involve latent risks and problems.