The Safe Waste Initiative

The Challenge

The key focus of the Safe Waste Initiative is to provide safe and secure pathways to manage and dispose of Australia’s most hazardous waste. This includes waste from:

Nuclear Medicine Production

Low-Level and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste

Australia has an ageing population with significant projections in demand for cancer related treatments into the future. Australia’s radioactive wastes are predominately a byproduct of nuclear medicine production to develop lifesaving radiotherapies and diagnostics for Australians. To-date, the approach to managing this waste in Australia has been long-term storage. There is now a bi-partisan federal government commitment to the development of purpose-built disposal facilities to ensure the protection of people and the environment from the hazards of radioactive waste. The siting and construction of these facilities presents numerous social, political and technical challenges that will draw on some unique capabilities available within CSIRO.

The Net Zero Energy Economy

Solar

Australia’s rooftop solar installations are the highest in the world (on a per capita basis), with approximately 70 million (25.3GW) installed so far, and research suggesting that there will be more than 1 million panels requiring replacement annually by 2030. There is currently no industry wide approach for managing the end-of-life phase for a solar panel, with nearly all providers opting for a landfill solution for the waste rather than recycling.  Solar panels are known to contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and plastics which have the potential to leach into the environment. The high cost and low economic yield of recycling solar panels is a major disincentive for industry to invest in recycling/re-use technologies.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Australia is expected to dispose of over 180,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste by 2036. E-waste is expected to grow exponentially with increased uptake of household solar storage and e-bikes. Similar to solar panels, batteries contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury and sulphuric acids which can cause environmental harm if not properly managed. Battery waste has also been known to cause local explosions and generate fire hazards in both domestic and commercial environments. There is currently no industry approach to battery recycling.

Wind Turbines

Recycling wind turbine blades presents many challenges. They generally comprise of non-biodegradable carbon fibre or glass fibre composite materials which are problematic to break down with little return on investment for doing so. With wind farm installations growing rapidly across Australia, like other clean energy waste streams, there is little attention being paid to the end-of-life management of the waste.

Our response

CSIRO has a multidisciplinary team with globally respected capability in the nuclear fuel cycle. The team comprises of individuals with decades of nuclear research experience in radioactive waste facilities all around the world. CSIRO also has unique scientific lab capability to support the research and development needs of Australia’s radioactive waste disposal programs. CSIRO provides specialised research and development support in the following areas:

Safe disposal systems

Innovative subsurface characterisation methodologies leveraging CSIRO’s strategic involvement in deep drilling and sensing technologies (e.g., In Situ Mineral Recovery, Deep Exploration Technology CRC, MinEx CRC and shale characterisation program – Shale Research Centre). This includes novel sensing devices, laboratory testing and advanced geomechanics tools to further research the integrity and stability of potential sites for a geological disposal facility.

Next generation multi-physics simulators with parallel computing capability. This involves the development of bespoke data management and multi-physics software for advanced modeling of subsurface behavour and interactions with waste forms in a variety rock types and conditions. It also allows the consideration of features, events, and processes relevant to potential release pathways and scenarios for geological disposal facilities in Australia, also supporting post-closure safety assessments.

Extreme environment geosciences (coupled thermal-hydrologic-mechanical-chemical processes) which are critically important to the temperature and pressure conditions of waste forms, thermally driven groundwater flow, disposal system stability, long-term seal performance, and ultimately long-term radiological safety.

Advanced AI tools to support complex options assessment processes using multi-criteria decision analysis techniques.

Novel engineered barrier materials that perform under extreme conditions to address the need for high-integrity containers and/or dual-purpose sealing and support matrices with a high compressive strength.

World-leading robotics capability to support the development of novel deep excavation, surface handling, emplacement and sealing technologies.

Continental scale digital feature mapping to enable a thorough assessment of potional go/no-go locations for Australia’s radioactive waste disposal facilities.

Tranpsort planning using CSIRO’s Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT) to identify suitable transport corridors to support the construction and operations of a radioactive waste facility in Australia.

Technology readiness assessments and pilot program design.

Social science and engagement

Social science research and development critical to understanding how stakeholder acceptance of radioactive waste disposal facilities can be achieved in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner. This includes building the evidence base of Australian citizens’ knowledge and perceptions about the range of disposal concepts and technologies, and the potential risks and benefits of these to a host community. CSIRO has developed internationally recognised models for building trust amongst stakeholders that can be used to inform the development effective public participation strategies. Such engagement strategies have been developed over many years supporting the coexistence of high-impact resource industries in Australia, as well as South Australia’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission.

Economic impact analysis

Assessment of workforce and supply chain capability to meet construction needs.

Cost analysis of disposal solutions.

The results (outcomes and impacts)

CSIRO has been supporting the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency (ARWA) with advice and guidance on:

• Disposal concept identification, costing and suitability for the Australian context.
• A disposal concept options assessment framework
• An area screening framework
• An integrated mapping tool with decision support capability
• Research and development programs
• Social science and engagement approaches

Radioactive waste management facilities are a multi-decadal undertaking, and the work is only just beginning. CSIRO looks forward to a long and prosperous association with the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency as we work collaboratively to solve this significant national challenge.

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