The table below gives total reported waste volumes and corresponding masses, total packaged waste volumes, and corresponding number of packages for each category of waste. The table presents the information at 1 April 2022 with estimated future arising up to 2136.
Total wastes at 1 April 2022 and estimated for future arisings – Reported volumes and masses
| Waste type | Reported Volume (m3) | Mass (tonnes) | Packaged volume (m3) | Number of packages |
| High Level Waste (HLW)(1) | 1,670 | 3,500 | 1,470 | 7,520 |
| Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) | 249,000 | 310,000 | 496,000 | 282,000 |
| Low Level Waste (LLW) | 1,480,000 (2) | 1,900,000 | 1,340,000 | 19,900 (3) |
| Very Low Level Waste (VLLW) | 2,750,000 (4) | 2,800,000 | 2,610,000 | See Note 5 |
| Total | 4,580,000 | 5,100,000 | 4,450,000 | 310,000 |
(1) The volume and mass do not include waste from reprocessing overseas spent fuel that will be exported to the country of origin. It assumes substitution arrangements are implemented.
(2) LLW includes 323,000 m3 reported volume of mixed LLW/VLLW at Springfields.
(3) Includes only those wastes packaged for disposal at the LLWR, on-site and Dounreay LLW vaults (packaged volume 390,000 m3). Excludes LLW streams and component parts of LLW streams whose characteristics make them suitable for recycling, incineration or appropriately permitted landfill disposal.
(4) Includes 2,650,000 m3 reported volume from facility decommissioning at Sellafield. However the current best estimate, albeit based on limited decommissioning experience, is that 70% of this material may be ‘out of scope’ of regulatory control.
(5) As VLLW can be disposed to appropriately permitted landfill sites no package numbers are collated for this waste category in the Inventory.
Key facts
The total volume of radioactive waste in stock at 1 April 2022 and estimated to arise in future from all sources is 4,450,000m3
At 1 April 2022 the total reported volume of waste is 137,000 m3
Over 94% of the total waste volume is of low activity (LLW and VLLW)
About 73% of the total waste volume is at Sellafield
2022 UK data
Waste in stock
Waste at 1 April 2022 includes all radioactive materials that had been declared as waste and were being held at this date.
Waste forecasts
Estimates of future radioactive waste arisings are projections made by the organisations that operate sites.
Total wastes
Total wastes at 1 April 2022 and estimated for future arisings
Other radioactive wastes and materials
Certain radioactive wastes and materials are reported separately from the main Inventory of radioactive wastes