Developments due in international agreement on inadvertent radioactive scrap contamination

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A deal is expected to be done this week on an international agreement on inadvertent radioactive contamination of traded scrap and semis.

Large scrap yards and metal melting facilities that are at risk of inadvertent radioactive contamination should have invested in monitoring equipment.

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But the new code of conduct proposes that every transboundary movement of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal or semi-product will need to be monitored for radiation and a radiation monitoring report should be provided in paper form or electronically.

Government experts at the International Atomic Energy Agency are intent on finalising this week the draft Code of Conduct on the Transboundary Movement of Scrap Metal and Semi-finished Products of the Metal Recycling and Production Industries that may inadvertently contain radioactive material.

Also at the meeting are Ross Bartley from the BIR as well as national association experts from Germany, Spain and USA.

Ross Bartley said: “Not every metal is at risk of inadvertently containing radioactive material. For example, primary aluminium semi-finished products such as ingot, slab, coil or billet should be considered for exclusion from the scope of this code of conduct.”