The objective is to treat and dispose of Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) at the Port Clarence site in a way that makes sure that people and the environment are protected from potential impacts in the short and long term. This is achieved through the application of engineered containment barriers for LLW that is disposed of into the landfill, or in the case of the Waste Recovery Park, through management systems and protocols, as well as packaging of wastes during transportation.
All waste management operations at Augean are the subject of strict health and safety, environmental and quality procedures which are certified and regularly audited internally and by the British Standards Institution. Port Clarence Landfill Site has been operational for almost twenty five years and the Waste Recovery Park for fifteen years.
Augean has a safety strategy for the responsible management of wastes which includes the following measures:
Waste Pre-acceptance Procedures
Before any waste is accepted for consignment to the site, Augean’s technical assessment team go through a series of pre-acceptance checks to confirm whether it is suitable for treatment or disposal and is included in the detailed list of permitted wastes that are in the Environmental Permit.
Strict processes verify that each waste received can be handled in the safest and most suitable manner. All waste producers wishing to consign LLW to the site will need to demonstrate to the Environment Agency that treatment or disposal at Port Clarence is the best available option for their specific waste stream by meeting the criteria for Best Available Technique (BAT), which includes consideration of whether the site is the nearest appropriate facility for the management of that waste. BAT is a requirement of the Environmental Permit of both the consignor (i.e. the producer) and the receiver (i.e. Augean) of the waste.
It is a requirement of legislation that the waste management network shall enable waste to be recovered or disposed of in one
of the nearest appropriate installations, by means of the most appropriate methods and technologies, in order to ensure a high level
of protection for the environment and public health. Inevitably, where the management measures are more specialist, as they are
at Port Clarence, there will be fewer such facilities therefore each such facility will serve a wider area.
Laboratory Services
Augean’s laboratory services are used to check and assess the chemical and physical properties of various waste streams. They also provide technical support to site operations by undertaking sampling and testing to monitor site compliance. By thoroughly understanding the composition of waste through analysis and monitoring they are able to minimise the impact of the waste that is managed on the wider environment. Augean has invested in the latest technology and in highly trained chemists to provide clients as well as the company with accurate information.
Transport and Packaging
Transport routes to the site already are strictly defined so that wastes will not travel through residential areas. The current routing agreement which requires HGV traffic accessing the site from the local highway network to approach the site from the north on the A178, to its junction with Huntsman Drive, will remain in place. The transportation of potentially hazardous materials including hazardous waste and waste with low levels of radioactivity is strictly regulated by the Department of Transport. It is the responsibility of the carrier of the waste to ensure that the waste is transported in accordance with the relevant transport regulations. Due to the limited activity of Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) most wastes do not need special forms of packaging or shielding during transport.
LLW imported into the site will typically be transported in double sealed bags or in sealed drums that are placed directly in the landfill. Waste for loose tipping will only be accepted in certain circumstances but it will be transported in enclosed skips or trucks. Large or bulky items of waste will be wrapped unless it has been demonstrated that this is not necessary.
Checks on Arrival
When waste arrives at Port Clarence the specially trained Radiation Protection Supervisors will check the consignment note and inspect the waste. Any waste that arrives at the site without being booked in is rejected or quarantined and the Environment Agency are informed. The physical condition of the packages will be inspected and the emissions from the waste are tested on arrival at the site to make sure that they do not exceed expected levels.
Once accepted LLW intended for landfill disposal will be taken and placed immediately in the landfill void and covered with suitable material. The location at which each consignment of waste is deposited is recorded using GPS coordinates. Wastes for treatment at the Waste Recovery Park will be transferred to the appropriate location at the Recovery Park for its management and treatment. Typically, the LLW initially will be delivered to the transfer and segregation building where it will be manually sorted and segregated into different waste types such as soils, metals, plastics and some items such as metal pieces and lengths may be reduced in size to increase packaging efficiencies before onward transport. The sorting process will include testing to confirm the radioactivity of the segregated wastes, followed by packaging of the segregated wastes for transfer for further treatment or disposal. The waste could then be transported from site for treatment elsewhere (e.g. incineration or metal grit blasting) or for disposal at one of the permitted LLW disposal
sites.