Waste Minimization by Melting–Recycling of Radioactive Metals: 20 Years Operation of the Melting Plant CARLA by Siempelkamp Nukleartechnik GmbH

Since more than 20 years the company Siempelkamp is deeply involved in the field of melting and recycling of radioactively contaminated metals from operation and decommissioning of nuclear installations across Europe. The experience of this long period shows clearly that only a combination of recycling inside the nuclear industry and release for reuse outside the nuclear market will generate the optimum results for the minimisation of radioactive waste volume. Final disposal volume is becoming more and more the status of an own resource within our nuclear business and should be handled very carefully in the future. The paper gives a compact overview about the impressive results of melting treatment, the current potential of the melting plant CARLA and about further developments.