Sustainable nuclear waste management in Belgium: current practices and future perspectives

Sven Boden; An Bielen; Wouter Broeckx; MD Moudud Hasan; Nenad Milenkovic; Nele Weyens; Didier Leonard

Sustainable nuclear waste management in Belgium: current practices and future perspectives

Sven Boden
, An Bielen
, Wouter Broeckx
, MD Moudud Hasan
, Nenad Milenkovic
, Nele Weyens
, Didier Leonard

Dismantling and Decontamination

Research output › peer-review

Abstract

Belgium’s sustainable nuclear waste management strategy is shaped by its limited land availability and high population density, alongside its commitment to EU circular economy principles. Governed by the ARBIS framework, the country applies the minimization principle to reduce radioactive waste through clearance, reuse, recycling, and optimized decommissioning practices. Case studies, including the BR3 reactor, demonstrate significantly reduced radioactive waste volumes. Implementation relies on advanced tools for traceability, decontamination, and dose impact assessment. Ongoing projects like SMELD aim to further improve metal treatment. SCK CEN’s experience offers valuable insights for countries seeking to balance nuclear safety with environmental sustainability and long-term waste reduction strategies.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	WM2026 - Waste Management Symposia Conference
Place of Publication	Phoenix, AZ, USA
Publisher	WM Symposia
Number of pages	10
State	Published - 8 Mar 2026
Event	2026 - WM - Waste Management: Efficient and Innovative Nuclear Materials and Technology Solutions - Phoenix Duration: 8 Mar 2026 → 12 Mar 2026

Conference

Conference	2026 - WM - Waste Management
Country/Territory	United States
City	Phoenix
Period	2026-03-08 → 2026-03-12

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Decent work and economic growth
Responsible consumption and production

Access to Document

https://www.wmsym.org/archivedproceedings/License: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Sustainable nuclear waste management in Belgium: current practices and future perspectives",

abstract = "Belgium{\textquoteright}s sustainable nuclear waste management strategy is shaped by its limited land availability and high population density, alongside its commitment to EU circular economy principles. Governed by the ARBIS framework, the country applies the minimization principle to reduce radioactive waste through clearance, reuse, recycling, and optimized decommissioning practices. Case studies, including the BR3 reactor, demonstrate significantly reduced radioactive waste volumes. Implementation relies on advanced tools for traceability, decontamination, and dose impact assessment. Ongoing projects like SMELD aim to further improve metal treatment. SCK CEN{\textquoteright}s experience offers valuable insights for countries seeking to balance nuclear safety with environmental sustainability and long-term waste reduction strategies.",

keywords = "Long-term waste reduction, Enviromental sustainability, SMELD",

author = "Sven Boden and An Bielen and Wouter Broeckx and Hasan, \{MD Moudud\} and Nenad Milenkovic and Nele Weyens and Didier Leonard",

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booktitle = "WM2026 - Waste Management Symposia Conference",

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}

Boden, S , Bielen, A , Broeckx, W , Hasan, MDM, Milenkovic, N, Weyens, N & Leonard, D 2026, Sustainable nuclear waste management in Belgium: current practices and future perspectives. in WM2026 - Waste Management Symposia Conference., 26318, WM Symposia, Phoenix, AZ, USA, 2026 - WM - Waste Management, Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 2026-03-08. <https://www.wmsym.org/archivedproceedings/>

TY - GEN

T1 - Sustainable nuclear waste management in Belgium

T2 - 2026 - WM - Waste Management

AU - Boden, Sven

AU - Bielen, An

AU - Broeckx, Wouter

AU - Hasan, MD Moudud

AU - Milenkovic, Nenad

AU - Weyens, Nele

AU - Leonard, Didier

N1 - Score=3

PY - 2026/3/8

Y1 - 2026/3/8

N2 - Belgium’s sustainable nuclear waste management strategy is shaped by its limited land availability and high population density, alongside its commitment to EU circular economy principles. Governed by the ARBIS framework, the country applies the minimization principle to reduce radioactive waste through clearance, reuse, recycling, and optimized decommissioning practices. Case studies, including the BR3 reactor, demonstrate significantly reduced radioactive waste volumes. Implementation relies on advanced tools for traceability, decontamination, and dose impact assessment. Ongoing projects like SMELD aim to further improve metal treatment. SCK CEN’s experience offers valuable insights for countries seeking to balance nuclear safety with environmental sustainability and long-term waste reduction strategies.

AB - Belgium’s sustainable nuclear waste management strategy is shaped by its limited land availability and high population density, alongside its commitment to EU circular economy principles. Governed by the ARBIS framework, the country applies the minimization principle to reduce radioactive waste through clearance, reuse, recycling, and optimized decommissioning practices. Case studies, including the BR3 reactor, demonstrate significantly reduced radioactive waste volumes. Implementation relies on advanced tools for traceability, decontamination, and dose impact assessment. Ongoing projects like SMELD aim to further improve metal treatment. SCK CEN’s experience offers valuable insights for countries seeking to balance nuclear safety with environmental sustainability and long-term waste reduction strategies.

KW - Long-term waste reduction

KW - Enviromental sustainability

KW - SMELD

UR - https://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/101260989

M3 - In-proceedings paper

BT - WM2026 - Waste Management Symposia Conference

PB - WM Symposia

CY - Phoenix, AZ, USA

Y2 - 8 March 2026 through 12 March 2026

ER -