Waste management at the Loviisa power plant has been divided into two sectors. Conventional waste management covers waste which does not contain activity, while waste formed in the controlled area is handled as radioactive waste. Waste in controlled area is divided into three groups by mode of generation and original use: low-level waste, medium-level waste and high-level waste.
Low-level waste
A major part of the waste formed during normal operation is low-level waste. This waste consists mainly of isolation material, paper, used protective gear, rugs, work clothing, machine parts, plastic and oil - in other words, conventional maintenance waste. Some of this waste can be exempted if its activity measurements meet the exemption demands set by authorities.
Medium-level waste
Medium-level waste mainly originates in ion exchange resins from process water purification systems as well as in evaporation waste from drainage water purification. If the waste has to be disposed of, it will be solidified by cementation into concrete cylinder at the solidification plant before transport to the final repository situated at the power plant.
Spent fuel
High-level waste consists of spent fuel. Spent fuel will be placed in a final repository at Olkiluoto in Eurajoki. The final disposal of spent nuclear fuel is planned to start in 2020's and will continue for almost a hundred years.The practical implementation of the final disposal is handled by Posiva Oy. Posiva Oy is an expert organisation responsible for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel of the owners, Fortum and Teollisuuden Voima.