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Managing non-electronuclear waste

A building dedicated to the management of non-electronuclear waste

The main purpose of the grouping building is: 

  • to receive, identify and control the waste collected from non-electronuclear producers (hospitals, pharmaceutical laboratories or other industrial sectors ...)
  • to store waste packages, on a short term basis
  • to package waste
  • to transfer waste to treatment and processing facilities before disposal or to temporary storage - for long-lived radioactive waste pending a definitive management solution

Inside this building, the waste is placed into different sectors according to their physical and chemical characteristics. As soon as the volume in a particular sector is sufficient, the waste is oriented elsewhere for treatment, conditioning (incineration, for example), disposal (at Cires or at the CSA for low-level waste) or temporary storage for waste pending the creation of a disposal facility. 

In 2016, 2,668 packages of radioactive waste were received at the grouping building, for a volume of 228 m3. 

1,590 packages of waste present in this building were transferred to another facility for treatment, storage or disposal.

Sorting and Processing building for non-electronuclear waste

Some waste grouped at Cires is transferred to the adjoining facility dedicated to sorting and treatment / processing. This facility provides the following :

  • Treatment of scintillation vials
    • Crushing
    • Separation of solids and liquids
    • Cementation of solids
  • Liquid waste treatment
    • Physico-chemical tests on liquid mixtures
    • Blending of liquid waste by family (solvents, oily, aqueous)
  • Solid Waste Treatment
    • X-ray solid waste package controls
    • Reconditioning non-compliant packages
  • Dismantling lightning rod heads (coming soon)

Key resources

Access our reference documents on Andra, radioactive waste management in France and the Cigéo project.

Key resources

Access our reference documents on Andra, radioactive waste management in France and the Cigéo project.

View all resources