Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs International Energy Agency Eurostat European Environment Agency

Parties to manage spent nuclear fuel and radioactive wastes using the most 
appropriate waste management practices. 
(d) International Targets/Recommended Standards: The IAEA has established 
Safety Standards (Fundamentals, Requirements and Guides) applicable to the 
management of radioactive wastes generated in nuclear energy facilities. It has also 
established the International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionizing 
Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources, which are consistent with 
recommendations of the ICRP. No comparable international recommended standards 
or targets exist for the radioactive waste generated in non-nuclear energy industries. 
(e) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is linked to other indicators related 
to radioactive waste, such as the ‘Ratio of solid radioactive waste awaiting disposal to 
total generated solid radioactive waste’ and ‘Management of radioactive waste, ISD-
RW’.
4
METHODOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION
(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: At present, there are no universally 
accepted strict categorizations for and definitions of radioactive waste, although some 
countries do have strict definitions. Nevertheless, in 1994 the IAEA published a guide 
(Safety Series No. 111-G-1.1) on waste classification for all waste types arising from 
the nuclear cycle. However, capacity building and improved guidance are required to 
apply this class scheme, and a common international framework on how to apply the 
classes to waste types is necessary. No definitions, concepts or classifications exist for 
radioactive waste arising from non-nuclear processes and activities. 
For nuclear fuel cycles, if national classifications are not available, it is proposed that 
the radioactive waste in solid form be classified into three different categories: high-
level radioactive waste (HLW); low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste 
(LILW), long lived (LL) and short lived (SL); and spent fuel arisings. The vast 
majority of all radioactive waste from the nuclear power fuel cycle chain is low level, 
and safe disposal sites for this type of waste have been in operation in numerous 
countries for many years. Disposal sites for HLW and other long-lived waste are 
under development in some countries. LILW is waste for which the heat generated is 
negligible and does not need to be taken into account during treatment and disposal. 
HLW is waste for which heat generation is significant and must be considered in all 
4
The latter is part of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) 
ISD set of indicators; its description is available at http://www-newmdb.iaea.org/ 
and http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/indicators/isdms2001/isd-ms2001economicB.htm# 
radioactivewaste. 

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the management steps. The concentration of long-lived alpha-emitting radionuclides 
determines whether the LILW is classed as SL or LL. Additionally, radioactive waste 
includes spent fuel, although in some countries it is not considered a waste stream and 
is routinely reprocessed (or stored for future use) in order to recycle the uranium and 
plutonium (as fresh fuel) and to remove the fission product, which is vitrified and 
constitutes the HLW stream. The indicator described by this methodology sheet in 
fact represents a set of indicators, since each type of radioactive waste needs to be 
assessed separately.