Canister (waste) meaning

A canister (waste) is a sealed vessel used to contain radioactive waste for safe handling, transport, interim storage and disposal in nuclear operations and decommissioning. In UK and Irish practice it is a descriptive industry term rather than a statutory definition, appearing in regulator and operator guidance aligned with IAEA standards; related terms such as “package” are defined for transport and environmental permitting. “Canister” most commonly refers to high-level waste (HLW), especially vitrified waste: molten glass incorporating HLW is poured into a specially designed stainless-steel canister to cool and solidify. The canister is typically the inner container holding the wasteform; when combined with any overpack, shielding or ancillary components it forms the waste package for consignment, storage and eventual disposal. In some contexts the canister itself is treated as the waste container. Legal and regulatory significance includes demonstrating, through the licensee’s safety case, that canister design, materials, welds, sealing, identification and performance satisfy ONR and environmental regulator requirements (e.g. containment, criticality control, heat removal, corrosion resistance) and the IAEA transport regulations. Usage and expectations are broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland (the latter with limited domestic HLW but comparable terminology under EPA oversight).