Tag: Waste Management

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Sweden’s Radioactive Waste Repository

Forsmark is home to one of the world’s first repositories for spent nuclear fuel.

Sweden is one of the leading countries when it comes to nuclear waste management and SKB has developed a process for safely storing radioactive waste.

Machinery is on site digging gravel and groundwork has begun on site to prepare for bridge construction. The site is right next door to the Forsmark power plant which should mean logistics are more straight-forward.

The area is 24 hectares; however, the impressive part if what will be 500-metres deep underground; more than 400 hectares that will include 60km of tunnels.

Sweden has 12 commercial reactors in total with 6 still in operation and this will be home to all of their high-level waste.

Excavation work will be completed in stages up until the 2080’s and the first deposited waste will be within the 2030’s.

“While we have been waiting for a decision, we have continued to work on technology development and optimisation,” says SKB’s CEO Stefan Engdahl. We have been able to do what we have been doing for 40 years – research and develop the solutions needed to fulfil our mission: to manage and dispose of operational waste, demolition waste and spent nuclear fuel from our owners.”

Read more here; https://group.vattenfall.com/press-and-media/newsroom/2025/one-of-the-worlds-first-final-repositories-for-spent-nuclear-fuel-is-being-built-in-forsmark

Picture: SKB

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Sellafield £4.6 billion high hazard framework

Sellafield has awarded a new £4.6 billion high hazard risk reduction framework contract to Amentum (remediation and hazardous waste retrieval), Atkins Realis and Altrad (decommissioning and nuclear waste management.), through the Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP).

The Decommissioning Alliance (TDA) is A joint venture involving Amentum, AtkinsRéalis & Westinghouse, handling pond retrievals.

The framework agreement will focus on the retrieval, storage and treatment of waste materials from the oldest facilities on the site and will be in place for 15-years.

All the companies involved with develop a sustainability plan to enhance collaboration with local priorities, ROI and delivering impact.

James Riddick, Sellafield Ltd chief supply chain officer, said:

“Cleaning up the legacy of historic operations on our site is at the heart of our mission. It is important that we achieve this safely, efficiently, and sustainably – our supply chain, and this partnership plays a key role in that.

We’re pleased to welcome our new partners. Their specialist capabilities and teams, working alongside our skilled Sellafield workforce, will help us deliver our mission and drive progress both on site and across our wider community.

Just as importantly, these partners share our values and our commitment to creating lasting social value for the communities we serve.”

Check out the original release; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sellafield-ltd-awards-high-hazard-risk-reduction-framework-contract

Picture: gov.uk

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Cumbria’s low level radioactive waste disposal facility

Drigg, the UK’s only low-level radioactive waste repository, offers a striking example of long-term stewardship of nuclear byproducts — from its beginnings in 1959 through to planned closure by 2127, and full decommissioning by 2135.

The facility, managed by Nuclear Waste Services, operates vaults and legacy trenches, containerises waste in engineered concrete “bathtubs,” and is moving toward major milestones like capping vault 8 and the legacy trenches to secure protection across many generations.

🌳 What stands out is how Drigg balances rigorous safety engineering, regulatory oversight, and environmental care (including wildlife management and site monitoring), while adapting to external pressures — such as weather, coastal exposure, and evolving regulations. It demonstrates how nuclear waste infrastructure isn’t just about containment; it’s deeply about community trust, transparency, design for the far future, and the people who make all of this possible.

View the full article here.

Image taken from the above article, credit NWS

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