Russian scientists have proposed a way to reduce the risk of waste

Russian scientists can start using nuclear technologies for waste recycling — this idea was proposed by scientists from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRU MEPhI) in cooperation with specialists from the Scientific and Technical Council of the Russian Environmental Operator (REO NTS). Izvestia learned about this on September 4.

The proposed solutions will reduce the hazard class of waste and involve various types of waste in recycling.

"Ionizing radiation is an alternative method that, along with traditional methods, can have significant potential for implementation in the field of waste management. Radiation exposure can be used for the neutralization of medical waste, deworming and debacterization of sludge, disinfection of industrial and domestic wastewater, processing of agricultural waste, and disposal of polymer compounds," Denis Butsaev, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.

Ionizing radiation destroys pathogenic microorganisms, which makes organic waste safe for further processing, decomposes persistent organic pollutants, reducing the hazard class of waste, and modifies crop and woodworking waste, making it suitable for use as a fodder base for livestock industries.

"The radiation method of disposal and processing of organic waste is based on the destruction of chemical bonds in organic compounds under the influence of gamma and electron irradiation, which leads to the formation of simpler compounds and changes in the physical and chemical properties of waste," said Sergey Egorshev, Adviser to the General Director of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences on Environmental Monitoring and Scientific and Technological Development, Executive Secretary of the NTS.

It is planned that scientists from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI will talk in detail about their experience in the use of ionizing radiation for the disposal and neutralization of various types of waste at a meeting of the NTS to assess their potential use in the industry.

The Scientific and Technical Council of the PPK REO has been functioning since 2020 and is a permanent advisory and advisory body established to identify new technological solutions, conduct scientific research, and carry out research and development work. The NTS is a center of technological competence for the replacement of foreign technologies and the scientific and technical development of the waste management industry.

On August 7, the Russian Environmental Operator (REO) announced that a massive update of waste disposal standards was being prepared in the regions of the Russian Federation. According to Irina Tarasova, General Director of REO, MSW standards are one of the key documents for the entire waste management system, so it is important that the regions regularly update the data and switch to calculations based on actual volumes.

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