It is generated by reactor fuel production, reactor operations, isotope production, medical procedures, and research and development activities. Thus, LLW usually, but not necessarily, includes waste with relatively low concentrations of radionuclides. Although the classification of waste can be complex, Class A waste generally contains lower concentrations of longer half-life radioactive material than Class B and C wastes. Greater than Class C waste are not considered low-level radioactive waste and must be handled and disposed of differently from Class A, B and C wastes. They are then often covered with a gravel drainage layer and a layer of topsoil.
Vegetation is planted on top for erosion control.
There is no intent to recover the wastes once they are disposed of. The volume of waste that is being disposed of each year is decreasing as the result of industry efforts to compact or incinerate part of the waste. LLW facilities are sited in areas that are away from surface water and where the groundwater is located at depths sufficiently beneath the trenches to minimize nuclide migration. Sites and the surrounding areas are monitored using a system of wells to determine if there is any leakage of radioactivity into the groundwater. In addition, restrictions of types and amounts of waste disposed of at a site, as well as the analysis performed as part of the licensing to demonstrate compliance with performance objectives in NRC regulations, increase the safety of LLW disposal.