Introducing the UK Nuclear Waste Services, NWS Annual Review 2023-24 Look ahead NWS Chair of the Board Adriènne Kelbie said the vital role Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) “is delivering a vital vision – to make nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner”. She added: “With safety and security at our core, we’re also supporting energy security and enabling new nuclear. We’re investing in skills and careers. We’re helping our communities. And we’re delivering long-term programmes which will create thousands of jobs for generations to come. By thinking differently about waste, harnessing new technologies, and creating new ways of working, we are delivering in a way that offers true value for money.”

NWS CEO Corhyn Parr noted that “this has been our second year operating as NWS, and we’ve made real progress”. The 21-page report covers:

  • The safe and secure operation of the UK’s national Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria, for the NWS workforce, customers, and the local community. “There were no major safety incidents in 2023 to 2024, and we received our 18th consecutive Gold Award from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).”
  • Positive progress at pace in delivering a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) as the safe, secure, and long-term solution for the most hazardous radioactive waste. Communities are engaging in the process and site evaluations are underway.

Strategic objectives include:

  • Right Waste Form, in the Right Package, in the Right Facility;
  • Accelerate Decommissioning by Innovation;
  • Value for the UK.

The report noted that NWS focuses on three key areas:

  • Planning and Preparation: Planning and preparation are the foundation of successful nuclear waste management and are an ongoing process throughout all of the waste lifecycle stages, with the application of the waste hierarchy at the core of our approach. Key activities that take place at this stage include waste characterisation, defining and managing radioactive waste inventory, developing safety cases, and integrated waste management planning.
  • Treatment and Packaging: The effective treatment and packaging of radioactive waste allows us to reduce overall waste volumes and maximise package performance. We provide a range of waste treatment options for optimised and efficient waste management routes. Our waste services team provides a range of services to help waste producers manage their waste throughout the lifecycle.
  • Disposal: Our ambition is to provide the full range of waste disposal capabilities, enabling permanent disposal of waste in the right disposal solution at the right time for the best value to the taxpayer.

Corhyn Parr said the plan for 2024 to 2025 includes four corporate targets including

  1. Embedding and sustaining Nuclear Waste Services – The work we began by forming NWS culminated when we became a single legal organisation in 2024. Work continues to embed and sustain the integration of an organisation that’s set up for success – equipped with the required tools, systems, processes and culture.
  2. Geological Disposal Facility – Managing the delivery of our GDF programme, progressing site evaluation studies and continuing to engage with communities.
  3. Waste Operations – Continued delivery and development of the Low Level Waste Repository site, including waste emplacement and repository capping.
  4. Waste Services – Ongoing waste management and disposal solutions delivery, taking forward initiatives for metallic waste treatment and processing.

“Our success will continue to be measured by delivery of key strategic milestones including capping activities at the Repository site, establishing a group wide service for waste characterisation, introducing a standard container catalogue for all categories of waste, and preparing for a decision on selecting communities to progress to deep borehole investigations (subject to the Secretary of State’s approval) and increased community investment to support the GDF programme.”

She continued: “We will build on our track record of delivery this year – and, together with our partners, stakeholders, and communities – make further progress in making nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner.”

The report notes: This year we welcomed the publication of a new UK policy framework for Managing Radioactive Substances and Nuclear Decommissioning. The policy includes potential scope for wider adoption of a risk-informed approach to disposal and use of the waste hierarchy as a framework for decision-making for all radioactive wastes across the UK, and scope for the introduction of Near Surface Disposal as an option for some intermediate level waste in England and Wales (previously covered in Scottish policy only).

The revised policy aims to drive innovation, sustainability and improvements in decommissioning and cleaning up the UK’s legacy nuclear sites. It will speed up decommissioning and bring significant savings to the taxpayer – with around £500m of savings. Greater flexibility in disposal options could lead to earlier and more cost-effective decommissioning of nuclear facilities, while maintaining the highest standards of safety. It will also make sure the right waste is packaged in the right way and disposed of in the right place proportionate to the risk and hazard it poses. “We are developing our plans to realise the opportunities presented by the change in policy.”