Reducing our waste and reshaping the waste hierarchy

Background

We are interested in technologies and techniques that would allow more effective application of the waste hierarchy (NDA Grand Challenge 1). This includes approaches that prevent and minimise new waste generation as well as approaches that reuse and recycle existing wastes. It also applies to the full range of our wastes and not just our radioactive wastes.

Next steps

Get in touch with research@nda.gov.uk

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Segwayste

    Our approach integrates state-of-the-art technology, combined with partners who have long-standing practical experience of nuclear waste sorting and segregation. We will utilise this experience combining cutting-edge art...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: JACOBS CLEAN ENERGY LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses waste sorting, segregation, and recycling, fully meeting the scope of the competition.

  • OptiSort Phase 2

    Cavendish Nuclear is proposing a fully integrated and automated waste management system to be developed in collaboration with Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Structure Vision, Clifton Photonics and Babcock International. T...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CAVENDISH NUCLEAR LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project proposes an automated waste management system that aligns with the waste hierarchy and recycling opportunities, addressing the challenge of reducing waste effectively.

  • HADES: A User Facility for High Activity Decommissioning Engineering Science

    HM Government's civil nuclear energy policy has the threefold objectives of: exploiting nuclear power for low carbon, reliable and affordable electricity generation; decommissioning the legacy of historic nuclear fuel cy...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Sheffield

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on thermal treatment of radioactive wastes, which is a partial aspect of waste management.

  • TRANSCEND: Transformative Science and Engineering for Nuclear Decommissioning

    UK government is committed to nuclear energy having an important role in delivering a secure, low-carbon and affordable energy future, with their aspirations for new build power stations and life extension of the existin...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses decommissioning, immobilisation, and management of nuclear waste, which is a partial aspect of waste management.

  • SmartDecay – A next-generation nuclear waste segregation and sorting system

    On-going nuclear decommissioning activities in the UK currently cost £3 billion per year and it is estimated that nearly 5 million tonnes of new waste are still to be generated from future decommissioning work span...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: FORTH ENGINEERING (CUMBRIA) LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the effective segregation and sorting of nuclear waste, aligning with the waste hierarchy goal.

  • An innovative cost saving solution for 100 years of nuclear waste containment

    **Vision:** A containment solution for domestic and international nuclear waste management and decommissioning markets, specifically targeting unshielded legacy and new build waste streams. This represents a stable marke...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: EADON CONSULTING LIMITED

  • NERC IAA - The University of Manchester

    The University of Manchester achieves a high level of knowledge exchange by virtue of strong institutional commitment and an effective KE infrastructure that successfully delivered the NERC IAA Pilot Phase I. This base o...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University of Manchester

  • OptiSort

    Cavendish Nuclear is proposing a fully integrated and automated waste management system to be developed in collaboration with Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Structure Vision, AcroVision, Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photo...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CAVENDISH NUCLEAR LIMITED

  • HARmonised PracticEs, Regulations and Standards in waste management and decommissioning

    The project aims to establish and clarify the benefits and added value of more aligned and harmonised regulations and standards for prioritised topics related to decommissioning and initial phases of radioactive waste ha...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: STUDSVIK LIMITED

  • Digitalised Autonomous System for Nuclear Waste Sort and Segregation

    When a nuclear power station enters the decommissioning phase a large amount of nuclear waste is generated. This waste, which is made up of a range of materials with differing radioactive content and intensity, as well a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: EDF ENERGY R&D UK CENTRE LIMITED