Report details award winning safety record, Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) progress, and multi-million-pound savings. Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is delivering a vital vision to make nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner. We’re protecting people and the environment today and taking responsibility for future generations.

For more than 70 years, nuclear technology has been a part of our lives in the UK. Today, nuclear power is viewed by the UK Government as part of its net zero ambition.

NWS brings together the best of the UK’s expertise in radioactive waste management, with skills in areas such as nuclear science, engineering, and community engagement. We are safely managing waste already created – and are preparing to safely manage future waste.

NWS has today published its Annual Review for 2023 to 2024, which highlights important progress and achievements:

• The safe and secure operation of the Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria, achieving an 18th consecutive Gold Award from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and with zero major safety incidents.
• Positive progress in delivering a GDF as the safe, secure, and long-term solution for the most hazardous radioactive waste. Three communities are engaging in the process and site evaluations are underway. 

• Re-using or recycling waste where possible, diverting 98 per cent of waste from disposal at the Repository site in Cumbria. In the past year alone, this has saved nearly £60m – on top of more than £900m saved over the past decade.  
• Concluded a multi-year project to retrieve, transport, and emplace over a thousand Treated Radwaste Store (TRS) drums.
• Working with NDA and the wider nuclear sector to develop innovative ways to treat problematic wastes like asbestos and metals, and to harness new technologies such as thermal treatment.  
• Recruiting more graduates and apprenticeships than ever before and supporting initiatives to develop a thriving national workforce of nuclear waste specialists. 

NWS CEO Corhyn Parr said: 

“We’re making nuclear waste, permanently safe, sooner – and by thinking differently about waste, harnessing new technologies, and creating new ways of working, we are delivering in a way that has safety and security at our core and offers true value for money.

“Working with our communities and stakeholders, we’re excited to build on the progress being made and strengthen as the expert ‘one stop shop’ for nuclear waste management.” 

NWS is part of the NDA group, which has a collective long-term mission to clean up nuclear sites safely, securely, and cost-effectively. Our activities provide the endpoint in the nuclear journey and are critical to NDA’s mission. 

A copy of the Annual Review is available on our website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-waste-services-annual-review-2023-to-2024

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