HC Deb 10 January 1989 vol 144 c572W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much low, medium and high-level radioactive waste is presently stored at Sellafield; in what form; and what is its final destination.

Mr. Michael Spicer

At 1 January 1988 a total of 1,250 cu m of high-level waste and 33,000 cu m of intermediate-level waste were stored at Sellafield. Low-level waste is not stored, but is disposed of to the Drigg disposal site as it arises.

High-level waste is stored as a liquid in high-integrity, cooled, stainless steel storage tanks. Intermediate-level wastes, in the form of fuel element cladding, sludges, resins, flocs and other miscellaneous solid waste from reprocessing operations, are stored in tanks, silos and purpose-built stores.

It is intended to vitrify high-level waste and to encapsulate intermediate-level waste in a cement matrix for further interim storage. Both processes will commence in mid-1990.

Reprocessing contracts with overseas customers entered into since 1976 include an option to return the resulting wastes to those overseas customers and we intend that these options should be exercised. Other wastes will be disposed of in suitable geological repositories in the United Kingdom.