Different types of radioactive waste and their sources in Switzerland

The Nuclear Energy Ordinance in Switzerland distinguishes the following categories of waste.

Art. 51 Categories of radioactive waste
For the purpose of disposal, radioactive waste is divided into the following categories:
 

• high-level waste (HLW):
  • spent fuel (SF) not destined for reprocessing;
  • vitrified fission product solutions from reprocessing of spent fuel;
• alpha-toxic waste (ATW): waste with a content of alpha-emitters exceeding a value of 20,000 Becquerels per gram of conditioned waste;
• low- and intemediate-level waste (L/ILW): all other radioactive waste.

For disposal, Nagra allocates the waste to different repository types:







Deep geological repository for HLW/SF for spent fuel and vitrified fission product solutions from reprocessing.

Deep geological repository for low- and intermediate-level waste (L/ILW).