Radioactive waste treatment is an issue that affects many sectors of the economy. Beyond the nuclear power industry, disposing of radioactive waste safely and legally requires training for those involved in university and private research firms, hospitals and medical imaging centers, manufacturers of radioactive equipment and transportation firms involved in nuclear waste removal. A whole industry unto itself has grown up around this need, with nuclear waste storage companies and radioactive waste disposal companies hiring from many fields.

To prepare for or advance a career in nuclear and toxic waste disposal, or simply to review the regulations and protocols that affect employees working with radioactive materials, explore the following options in radioactive waste disposal education and training:

1. Acquire training in radioactive waste treatment that's tailored to your specific industry and job responsibilities.

2. Seek formal education and certification to advance a career in nuclear waste transportation or management with a radioactive waste disposal company.

3. Capitalize on the availability of online information about nuclear waste disposal for continuing education and on-the-job reference.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get job-specific training in disposing of radioactive waste

When it comes to issues of radioactive waste disposal, companies and institutions use a wide variety of protocols. If you're dealing with radioactive waste from a research lab or medical imaging facility, for example, you face different challenges than the nuclear waste removal issues a power plant grapples with. Choose radioactive waste disposal education and training that's suited to your situation.

I recommend: Pangea Group, an environmental engineering firm, offers training for hazardous waste operators, radiation workers and radiological control technicians in a variety of industries; training sessions take place at your job site or at Pangea's St. Louis headquarters. The Division of Research Safety at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, like many university labs, offers a 20-minute online tutorial with printable certificate for researchers who must handle radioactive waste disposal.

Undergo more thorough education in nuclear and toxic waste disposal

For professionals in nuclear waste disposal companies or those involved in the transportation of radioactive waste, more extensive training is often required by federal law. This specialized training is designed to deal with a range of issues in radioactive waste treatment, transportation and disposal.

I recommend: The Radiation Safety Academy, a division of Dade Moeller & Associates, offers a 3-day course in Low-Level Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management. Those registered for the class can also take the training for the DOT-required Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Awareness certificate at no additional cost. Nuclear scientists and program managers can take the 3-day Radioactive Waste Management & Repository Sciences Training from the Radiochemistry Society.

Make use of online resources to review information about nuclear waste disposal

Either as preparation for more formal radioactive waste disposal education and training or as a self-taught refresher course, you can make use of numerous online sources of nuclear waste disposal information.

I recommend: The University of California San Francisco's Office of Environmental Health & Safety offers an online Radiation Safety Training Manual that addresses issues of nuclear waste. Companies and individuals looking for a comprehensive overview can download the publication Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage, Disposal from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Industries that produce radioactive material and byproducts are obligated by law to find suitable facilities for their radioactive waste disposal. Since radioactive waste takes various forms, including solid, liquid and gas, it poses a particular environmental hazard if not properly disposed of. Consider that radioactivity can last anywhere from a few hours to a hundred thousand years. That is why it is imperative that industries find nuclear waste companies highly experienced in radioactive waste treatment and disposal.

Disposing of radioactive waste is a highly sensitive process, so find a radioactive waste disposal company that provides quality, expert services. Look for the following:

1. Nuclear waste disposal companies that provide a full range of environmental services and are licensed for multiple waste codes;

2. Radioactive waste disposal companies that service various industries;

3. And nuclear waste companies that are efficient in emergency responses and cleanups.

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Find radioactive waste disposal companies that offer a full range of environmental services

Waste disposal requirements vary depending upon industry processes and standards. You should seek a nuclear waste disposal company that provides a comprehensive menu of services, including storage, detection, neutralization, deactivation, stabilization, transportation and other necessary processes.

I recommend: The Environmental Quality Company offers waste handling processes that meet stringent regulatory standards. Its hazardous waste disposal services include onsite analysis, leak detection, onsite waste water treatment, computerized landfill waste tracking, extensive truck washes, door-to-door pickup and daily waste location surveys. They accept more than 630 waste codes. Chemtron Corporation accepts more than 540 waste codes and is licensed for energy recovery, recycling, deactivation, neutralization, stabilization/fixation, solidification and waste water treatment.

Search for nuclear waste disposal companies that service a cross section of industries

Many nuclear and toxic waste disposal companies offer services to various industries. A wider focus of hazardous waste disposal also means wider options and maximized value.

I recommend: PSC provides both hazardous and nonhazardous waste disposal services to various industries, including governmental, industrial and commercial. Clean Harbors Environmental Services has comprehensive hazardous material management and disposal services for key industries, such as pharmaceutical, retail, refineries, health care, education, chemical, engineering, manufacturing, transportation and government.

Find nuclear waste companies that provide emergency response and cleanup plans

A good waste disposal service will have an emergency contingency plan, which is vital to maintaining environmental and health safety. Hazardous spills, leaks and other disasters should be anticipated, and more important, solutions should be laid out for a quick and full response to these hazards.

I recommend: GZA GeoEnvironmental offers contingency and emergency response planning that includes spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (EPA’s Oil Pollution Prevention); risk management planning (under Clean Air Regulations); and an emergency action plan that coordinates responses on the local, state and federal levels. Safety-Kleen Systems provides a subscription plan for businesses featuring an emergency plan that addresses spills as well as disposal and storage issues for both hazardous and nonhazardous materials.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To supplement your nuclear waste disposal plan, read the online EPA guidelines on hazardous waste that defines what is considered hazardous as well as the federal requirements for disposal.

Radioactive waste disposal can be tricky and confusing to someone who has never worked with the terms or processes before. So familiarizing yourself with the terms, definitions and general knowledge of the industry will better prepare you to speak to reps, converse in the field and discuss topics with coworkers. There are multiple levels of radioactive waste, and each comes with its own jargon. Knowing the lingo will help better prepare you to stay safe and protected in your work environment and in those that you are visiting.

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Low-level waste (LLW)

Low-level waste refers to radioactive waste products that can contaminate your clothing, tools, filters, rags, medical tubes and other items that aren't necessarily the irradiated item itself.

I recommend: Find out more about low-level waste and more from the Office of Environmental Management.

Waste incidental to reprocessing (WIR)

Waste incidental to reprocessing (WIR) is when waste byproducts come from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

I recommend: The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission goes into detail about waste incidental to reprocessing.

High-level waste (HLW)

High-level waste (HLW) is irradiated waste or used nuclear reactor fuel.

I recommend: Take a look at the high-level radioactive waste information from the Nuclear Information and Resource Service.

Uranium mill tailings

After uranium is extracted through the milling of ore during the mining process, one thing that is left is a radioactive, sand-like material that is called uranium mill tailings.

I recommend: Find out more about radioactive waste from uranium mill tailings at Environment, Health and Safety Online.

Neutralization, deactivation

Neutralization and deactivation of radioactive waste removes the radioactive properties of the materials in whatever molecular form they're in.

I recommend: Check out the list of Methods of Neutralizing or Disposing of Radioactive Waste from FreeEnergyNews.com.

Contingency and emergency response

Contingency and emergency response services are vital to the radioactive waste disposal industry. They keep those in the field up-to-date on proper protocol, allowing them to keep a step ahead of the next disaster. They also allow you to run drills, prepare kits and inform staff ahead of time what the necessary steps are in case of a critical disaster in relation to radioactive waste.

I recommend: Look at information and solutions from GZA GeoEnvironmental on contingency and emergency response services. Proper preparation may save lives at your company, so investing in an adequate emergency plan of action should be one you are willing to make.