Like private industry, DOE must comply with strict federal, state, and Native American, and local environmental regulations in treating, storing, and disposing of hazardous waste. Mixed Waste Mixed waste contains both radioactive and hazardous materials. New technologies, treatment standards, and disposal facilities for mixed wastes are being developed to satisfy regulatory requirements for both the hazardous and the radioactive components in the waste. Sanitary Waste Sanitary waste is routinely generated by office and housekeeping activities. It is neither radioactive nor hazardous - it is common garbage, including everything from paper to sewage.
Sanitary waste is disposed of in sanitary landfills and is treated in sewage treatment plants.
DOE recycles sanitary waste products such as paper and aluminum. Investigative and Cleanup Derived Waste Site characterizations and cleanup activities themselves yield additional waste. For example, some materials removed under one regulatory standard must be disposed of under different regulatory standards. Past activities have also contaminated soil and ground water with radioactive materials, hazardous chemicals, or both.