Nuclear medicines and technologies are used widely in Australia to support cancer treatment and medical diagnosis as well as in scientific and industrial applications.
Waste products from the production and use of radioactive materials require careful management to ensure safe transport, storage and disposal of radioactive waste.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has released its updated Guide for Classification of Radioactive Waste (2020).
While the classifications themselves have not changed, key updates in this version of the guide include simplification of the document structure and alignment of terminology with international standards.
'The updated Guide continues to provide a clear and consistent guidance for classification of Australia's radioactive waste', said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, ARPANSA CEO.
This Guide supports best-practice classification of radioactive waste and is part of Australia's strong regulatory framework to ensure the safe use of radiation. It also supports implementation of the safety requirements outlined in the Code for Disposal Facilities for Solid Radioactive Waste (2018).
These regulatory documents are important to all industry sectors that deal with radioactive material and to the Commonwealth government as it works towards establishing a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF).
ARPANSA does not have a formal role in the Government's NRWMF until such time as a licence application is received.
