Guidance: How we manage waste more sustainably

This guidance explains how waste from the final stages of nuclear decommissioning is managed to achieve safe, sustainable outcomes for people, the environment and local communities.

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The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is responsible for dismantling facilities and structures that have reached the end of their operational life and cleaning-up contamination from past activities. This work is carried out on behalf of government to return sites – many of which date back to the 1960s – to a safe and publicly acceptable condition for future use.

All waste must be managed safely and disposed of or reused appropriately, either on the originating site or at another suitable location. Decisions on waste management must balance multiple factors, including environmental protection, value for money, and the need to support local communities and regional economies.