Objective The study is aimed at proposing radioactivity levels which represent a limit below which waste, arising in hospital and research facilities, may follow the same disposal routes as normal refuse. A methodology is given for the evaluation of this radioactivity limit. It is determined following realistic exposure scenarios for wastes and the population concerned. Together with these proposed limits, recommendations are given aimed at ensuring that criteria for the transition to the public domain are not violated by producers.THE FIRST STEP OF THIS WORK, A BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY, WAS CONSTITUTED FROM RECENT PAPERS PURSUED ON CONCEPTS OF EXCLUSION AND EXEMPTION OF SUBSTANCES OR MATERIALS, ALSO CALLED "DE MINIMIS" PRINCIPLES, ON THE DETERMINATION PRINCIPLES OF DERIVED LIMITS, AND ON THE ALREADY REALIZED APPLICATIONS OF THIS METHODOLOGY (E.G. RECYCLING OF MATERIALS FROM THE DISMANTLING OF NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS, DISPOSAL OF VERY LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES). A SURVEY OF THE PRESENT SITUATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE, AND THEIR APPROACH OF THIS PROBLEM WAS INVESTIGATED. CONCERNING FRANCE, WE HAVE EXAMINED THE PRESENT REGLEMENTARY ASPECTS IN REGARD TO RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND NON RADIOACTIVE WASTE, OR STANDARDS WASTE, IN COLLECTING THE MAIN LEGISLATIVE TEXTS. THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO ANNUAL PRODUCTION AND ITS DEVELOPMENT DURING RECENT YEARS WAS ANALYSED IN INQUIRING BESIDE ANDRA (AGENCE NATIONALE POUR LA GESTION DES DECHETS RADIOACTIFS) IN ORDER TO: - CHARACTERIZE RADIOACTIVE WASTE PRODUCERS (ALSO CALLED, IN FRANCE, "SMALL PRODUCERS"), - CHARACTERIZE PRODUCED WASTES (CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL FORM, RADIOACTIVITY...) - BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE DIFFERENT POSSIBLE WAYS OF WASTE TREATMENT. FINALLY, AN INVESTIGATION WAS REALIZED IN AN INSTALLATION OF WASTE PRODUCER IN WAY TO HAVE A BEST APPROACH, IN SITU, OF THE REALITY: WHAT IS THE PRODUCER MAKING, WHAT ARE HIS RADIOACTIVE WASTES BECOMING, WHAT ARE HIS OTHER WASTES BECOMING, WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED. Fields of science engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineeringnuclear waste managementengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling Programme(s) FP1-RADWASTOM 3C - Research and development programme (Euratom) on the management and storage of radioactive waste, 1985-1989 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) Address Centre d'études de fontenay-aux-roses 92265 Fontenay-aux-roses France See on map EU contribution € 0,00
