MANAGING WASTE

Horizon Nuclear Power is committed to managing radioactive waste safely, securely and to the highest standards. Through our parent companies, we - and the wider nuclear industry - have considerable experience of successfully managing the by-products of nuclear generation. We will be working with all the relevant authorities and local communities to ensure we remain transparent and keep people informed about our activities.

The Government has clearly stated that all investors in new nuclear power stations will need to fund, develop and build them. This includes meeting the full costs of decommissioning and each operator's full share of waste management costs.

The UK has a strong, robust and independent nuclear regulatory regime which will play a key role in helping ensure the secure final disposal of waste arising from the new generation of UK nuclear power stations.

Through our shareholder companies, E.ON and RWE, we have more than 45 years of first-hand experience in decommissioning nuclear power stations and treating and storing waste. We understand the technology involved and are clear on the need for significant investment.

The UK nuclear energy industry creates low, intermediate and high level waste.

Low level waste - this includes protective clothing, cleaning materials and other items which may have become contaminated. This is generally stored securely on site prior to its safe disposal at the UK's low level waste repository at Drigg, near Sellafield, and typically amounts to no more than a few normal lorry loads per year for currently operating designs.

Intermediate level waste - this includes fuel claddings and reactor components. Its radioactivity is higher than lower level waste and it needs to be shielded, but does not generate significant levels of heat.

High level waste - this mainly consists of spent fuel and makes up around 0.3 per cent of the UK's existing nuclear waste by volume. The Government is currently exploring and consulting on the potential for a geological disposal facility in the UK, which will enable waste to be isolated deep inside a suitable rock formation to ensure that no significant quantities of radioactivity ever reach the surface environment.

More information about what the Government is doing about radioactive waste can be found on the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website