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.

The table gives the reported waste volumes and corresponding masses at 1 April 2022, and the volumes already packaged at 1 April 2022 with corresponding numbers of packages for each waste category. The tables also give figures for future radioactive waste arisings that are projections made by the organisations operating the sites. These projections are based on assumptions about the nature, scale and timing of future operations and activities at their sites. The 2022 Inventory includes forecast radioactive wastes from future operations and activities up to 2136.

Wastes at 1 April 2022 and future arisings – Reported volumes, masses, equivalent packaged volume and package numbers

Waste type	At 1.4.2022	Reported volume (m3)	Reported mass (tonnes)	Packaged volume (m3)	No of packages
HLW(1)	Not yet packaged	1,060	1,300	–	–
	Already packaged	929	2,500	1,210	6,191
ILW(2)	Not yet packaged(3)	66,900	61,000	–	–
	Already packaged	35,100	66,000	46,300	67,307 (4)
LLW(5)	Not yet packaged(6)	25,800	28,000	–	–
	Already packaged	6,280	10,000	6,990	1,324
VLLW(7)	Not yet packaged	1,490	1,300	–	– (8)
	Already packaged	0	0	0	– (8)

(1) Volume and mass “not yet packaged” are for HAL; volume and mass “already packaged” are the conditioned volume and corresponding mass for waste that has been encapsulated in glass.

(2) Volume and mass “not yet packaged” are for untreated or partly treated waste. Volume and mass “already packaged” are the conditioned volume and corresponding mass e.g. conditioned in a cement-based material.

(3) ILW “not yet packaged” includes 1,440 m3 reported volume that is expected to be disposed of as LLW.

(4) ILW package numbers include 1,938 1803-type mild steel drums. These drums are expectaed to be overpacked in larger capacity boxes (6 drums per box).

(5) Volume and mass “not yet packaged” are for untreated or partly treated waste. Volume and mass “already packaged” are the conditioned volume and corresponding mass e.g. conditioned in a cement-based material.

(6) “Not yet packaged” includes 1,230 m3 reported volume of mixed LLW/VLLW at Springfields.

(7) Volume and mass “not yet packaged” are for untreated or partly treated waste.

(8) As VLLW can be disposed to appropriately permitted landfill sites, no package numbers are collated for this waste category in the inventory.

Find out more about waste quantities in the 2022 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory report.