Los Alamos National Laboratory announced the successful permanent disposal of a significant volume of radiological and hazardous waste accumulated over the years at off-site facilities. The Lab's off-site waste shipments exceeded the rate of waste generation, despite an expansion in its mission to develop plutonium pits. This feat was achieved through consistent efforts by the lab's staff to ensure safe and effective disposal strategies.
The Los Alamos National Laboratory's handling of waste materials has been lauded for its remarkable efficiency. The Los Alamos National Laboratory received zero notices of violation from the 15 waste disposal facilities and the Department of Transportation that it utilizes. In the fiscal year 2023, the Lab generated 817 containers of transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste, including items like protective clothing, tools, and equipment contaminated from nuclear weapons research and production. The removal of old waste drums has proven crucial for employees working in the Plutonium Facility in TA-55, supporting missions for both plutonium pit production and nondefense plutonium initiatives, such as heat sources for NASA programs, according to a press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Key individuals have played essential roles in maintaining this level of performance. "Staff across TA-55, as well as packaging and transportation drivers, have been instrumental in the progress we’ve made shipping large amounts of waste off-site," said Nestor Trujillo, group leader for Hazardous Material Shipping, according to a press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
In terms of sheer numbers too, progress is clearly evident. Furthermore, the Lab surpassed the rate of waste generation by disposing of a total of 885 containers, including TRU waste from previous years, with 68 shipments to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico—the designated underground repository for defense-generated nuclear waste. Additionally, the Lab sent 629 shipments of waste from various streams, totaling more than 5,700 containers, to licensed off-site disposal facilities in FY23, significantly exceeding the approximately 2,000 containers of waste generated, according to a press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The ultimate goal of these efforts is not just efficiency but also safety and sustainability. "We continue to ship more waste than is generated, which reduces the amount of waste on-site and lessens any associated hazards to the environment, community and workforce," said Pat Kennedy, group leader for Waste Management Services, according to a press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory.