Radioactive Waste Disposal Procedures

Liquid Radioactive Waste

• Liquid radioactive waste is best disposed of via the sewer system. Such waste may only be disposed of via flushing sinks connected to approved radioactive drains provided for this purpose.
• Ensure that the activity per flush is below the dilution concentration limit for each radionuclide.
• Organic solvents are not to be disposed of via flushing sinks.

Solid Radioactive Waste

• Solid waste must be sealed in a red plastic bag and placed in a cardboard radioactive waste box.
• Waste must be segregated by radionuclide and waste type unless otherwise permitted. For example, the following waste should be packaged in separate boxes

• radionuclide
• animal carcasses (will be stored frozen and incinerated)
• syringes in a sharps container (will be incinerated)
• scintillation cocktail contained in counting tubes (may be incinerated)

• All sharps (needles & broken glass) must be enclosed in a hard container (metal tin or plastic sharps container) before being placed into waste boxes.
• An estimate of the total activity of each radionuclide must be written in the details section of each box. Only units of activity (Bq, Ci and their derivatives) are acceptable.
• Do not use counts per second or Bq per mL.
• Current WA government regulations limit the activity of radionuclides in a waste box for landfill burial. Box limits for long lived radionuclides are

• Boxes should be sealed with 50 mm wide masking tape such that the box label is not obscured.
• Do not use Caution - Radioactive tape on waste boxes.
• Ensure all wastes are labelled clearly and correctly.