Kabelschlepp
Background
The job of size reducing and disposing of an exempt spool and transport trolley from the Vitrification Handling Plant has been underway for a number of years.
The trolley better known as ‘the Kabelschlepp’, was used to decontaminate vitrified product containers.
The trolley was originally consigned to the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) for disposal. However, during 2006/07, when the Waste Monitoring and Compaction plant (WAMAC) began to diversify into size reduction, the option to process the Kabelschlepp through WAMAC was considered.
The Kabelschlepp was removed from the Vitrification plant in 2008. It was successfully dismantled and the waste sentenced accordingly. Following this, the steelwork was processed though the Metals Recycling Facility before eventual exemption and disposal.
Challenge
The biggest challenge faced in this project was the unknown with regards to the contamination levels internal to the Kabelschlepp. Although the item was fully surveyed prior to despatch from the Vitrification plant, a significant amount of preparation of the area and contingency arrangements were required in the event that elevated levels of activity were uncovered.
Solution
Following suitable size reduction, all pieces of the spool and trolley were processed through the wheelabrator - a facility used to mechanically remove the outer surface of contaminated steel in order to clean the metal so that it can be recycled. This resulted in the material being made exempt and available for free release.
The waste sentenced to the LLWR included the aluminium stays, hoses and steel rail sidings.
Achievements
Over £50,000 was saved in disposal costs. The volume of the material was reduced from a 30 m³ full height ISO as originally planned, to one compacted WAMAC ‘puck’ that was approximately 1/4 m³ in volume.
Disposal of the ‘Kabelschlepp’
