Studsvik's UK metal recycling plant approved

13 February 2008

Studsvik of Sweden announced on 13 February that it had obtained all necessary licences to allow construction and subsequent operation of its proposed UK Metallic Recycling Facility (MRF) near Sellafield. The facility will be used to process low-level radioactive metal arising from operations and decommissioning of UK nuclear facilities. The first phase of the facility is expected to become operational later in 2008. Following treatment, the recycled metal will be proven to be below exemption limits before eventually being sold into the UK recycled metal market for industrial use. The radioactive residues will be packed and safely disposed of in the UK low-level waste (LLW) repository at nearby Drigg. Studsvik acquired an industrial site near Workington, Cumbria, in early 2006 and the company submitted a licence application for the facility in June 2007. According to Studsvik, this was the first application of its kind in the UK for over 20 years. The company estimates that there are 500,000 tonnes of contaminated scrap metal in the UK that can be safely treated, recycled and reused.