What are the radioactive waste categories and their disposal options?  

To dispose of radioactive waste, first, be sure to categorize it properly. Is it:

• Exempt from regulation?
  • Exempt material is radioactive material that is exempt from the radioactive material regulations and can therefore be used or disposed of without consideration of its radioactive content.
• Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW)?
  • LLRW is defined in the law by what it is not. It does not include:
    
    • radioactive wastes that are high level, such as spent nuclear fuel
    • transuranic wastes produced by the nuclear weapons program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
    • tailings and other by-products of uranium mining and recovery
    • Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
    • oil and gas NORM waste
• Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)? or Mixed Waste?
  • Non-oil and gas NORM is solid, liquid, or gaseous material or combination of materials, excluding source material, special nuclear material, and by-product material, that naturally emit radiation, is discarded or unwanted, not exempt by the Texas Department of State Health Services rules and is from non-oil and gas activities.
  • Mixed waste contains both hazardous waste and low-level radioactive waste.

Processing, Brokering, and Transportation Services

The LLW Forum, Inc. and the Southeast Compact Commission provide a National Directory of Brokers and Processors  list of companies providing processing, brokering, and/or transportation services. Search their directory by waste product to find alternatives for your waste. 

The Waste Generator Disposal Guide assists generators in the commercial disposal of LLRW at the Texas Compact Waste Disposal Facility in Andrews County.

Contact the Radioactive Materials Division if you have any questions.