Laurentis Energy Partners (LEP) and EnergySolutions Canada recently celebrated the grand opening of a new 42,000-square-foot nuclear waste recycling facility in Kincardine.
Laurentis CEO and President Jason Van Wart explained The Western Clean Energy Sorting & Recycling Facility is expected to minimize waste associated with nuclear energy generation.
"Space on site is extremely valuable. It's a licenced site. It's a limited space. It's extremely expensive to build new facilities on a licenced site," said Van Wart. "So we want to get anything that doesn't need to be there out of those buildings so that we can maximize that very valuable space for things that need to be there."
The facility was built for Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to sort materials like protective clothing or small tools from OPG’s nuclear generating stations. It currently employs about 30 people who comb through waste from the Western Waste Management Facility, which stores nuclear waste at the Bruce Power site. The sorting facility aims to reduce waste volumes through processing, segregation, and by diverting more nuclear materials through methods that include reuse and recycling.
"Big rooms with ventilation and radiation monitoring and individuals open up the old waste bags sort through and scan and ensure that it's either clean or it isn't clean, and segregate it appropriately," explained Van Wart. "And then things that need to go back to radiologic storage go and other things can be dealt with in the ways we've already discussed."
The operation decreases the need for new storage buildings on the limited Bruce Power site, and reduces OPG’s environmental footprint.
"Really providing a reduction in the environmental footprint that nuclear is taking up. he said. "We've committed to the Kincardine region that we would reduce the volume of waste stored at that Western Waste site by 50 per cent over the next ten years and this sorting exercise is part of it."
"So now through either decay of radiation or the fact that it wasn't present in first place, we're looking to sort those items out and then they can be disposed of either through incineration, compaction, and in some cases, be released to a conventional landfill," added Van Wart.
So the facility is able to, in most cases, reduce the volume of waste stored by 50 to 60 per cent. Van Wart says that adds up to about 10,000 cubic metres a year.
“Laurentis is pleased to continue to drive innovation in nuclear materials management for our clients,” said Van Wart. “The official opening of the WCSR marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering cutting-edge nuclear energy solutions. The facility will enable the efficient sorting of nuclear materials and we’re pleased to have brought this integrated solution to the nuclear industry.”
“EnergySolutions is proud of the partnership we have established with Laurentis and OPG in this endeavor. Our joint success here is a reminder and example of our deep commitment to teamwork in Ontario’s nuclear industry and how fundamental it is to success,” stated Jeff Richardson, COO for EnergySolutions. “This facility is a clear demonstration of the power and potential of working together, each partner playing to their unique strengths and experience to deliver vital services to the province. We look forward to working together and exploring future ventures to serve OPG’s nuclear business and our common goal of Net Zero.”
“On behalf of Council, staff, and the residents of Kincardine, I would like to congratulate Ontario Power Generation, Laurentis Energy Partners and EnergySolutions on the grand opening of the Western Clean Energy Sorting & Recycling facility,” says Kincardine Mayor Kenneth Craig. “The addition of the WCSR will provide valuable jobs and represents continued innovation and advancement in our municipality, furthering our position as one of Canada’s leading communities in the energy sector.”
Learnings from LEP and McMaster University’s Clean-Energy Materials Sorting and Recycling Initiative in Hamilton, Ontario, have been incorporated into the facility.
The facility operates under EnergySolutions’ Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) license. EnergySolutions Canada also provides radiation safety compliance and management for the facility.