Storing and disposing of radioactive materials

If you store or dispose of radioactive material, you must keep it safely and securely on your site.

Storage of radioactive materials

• Store radioactive materials and wastes securely on the premises.  
• You must store radioactive materials and wastes according to the conditions of your certificate of registration or authorisation.

There is further information on keeping, moving and transporting radioactive substances in the Health and Safety Executive information sheet – Control of radioactive substances.

Disposal of radioactive wastes

• Minimise the creation of radioactive waste.
• Dispose of radioactive wastes safely.
• In most cases you will have to pay to dispose of radioactive waste. Disposal costs can be very high so make sure that you can afford this before you apply to keep or use radioactive materials.
• If you use high-activity sealed sources (HASS) you will have to show that you can afford the disposal cost and manage the sources when they become disused, before you are issued with a certificate.

Importing and exporting radioactive materials and wastes

If you are involved in the import or export of radioactive material or waste, you should also be aware of the European Council Regulation (Euratom) 1493/93 and the Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Regulations 2008.

For further information you should contact your environmental regulator.

In England and Wales you can also contact the Environment Agency's International Waste Shipments service:

Tel: 01925 542265
Fax: 01925 542105
email: nattfs@environment-agency.gov.uk

If you export sealed sources or certain nuclear materials, such as depleted uranium then you may need an export licence.

In this guideline: