Radioactive waste is divided into three groups:
- Solid waste that can be classified as inactive
- Waste that can be disposed of directly down the drain or by combustion
- Wastes requiring treatment
1. Solid waste that can be classified as inactive
The waste is called inactive if there is low risk that it may be contaminated. Examples can be empty packaging, gloves and paper. Waste of this kind thrown in the trash.
2. Waste that can be disposed of directly down the drain or by combustion
If the activity is greater than that given below, first allow the waste to decay. The waste must be labelled with information about date, current activity, isotope name and user name, and placed in in the waste container labelled "isotope waste", which is in flue cupboard in the corridor by Ecology.
Solid waste incineration
Radionucleide group 2: Max. 5 MBq / bag
Radionucleide group 3: Max. 50 MBq / bag
Radionucleide group 4: Max. 500 MBq / bag
Liquid waste and drains
Radionucleide group 2: Max. 5 MBq / month. (300,000,000 DPM / month)
Radionucleide group 3: Max. 50 MBq / month. (3,000,000,000 DPM / month)
Radionucleide group 4: Max. 500 MBq / month. (30,000,000,000 DPM / month)
You are allowed to dilute samples down to 6000 DPM / ml and flush them down the drain. Rinse everything thoroughly afterwards with running water.
Biology never purchases strong enough sources to use this waste category. If you have an exception, ASK about the correct procedure.
Questions about isotope wastes should be addressed to Poul Bjerregaard. Please also note that you may not start working with isotopes without instruction from the above.