Tellus approved for radioactive waste disposal
Tellus Holdings has secured long-awaited approval to dispose of low-level radioactive material from anywhere in the country at its site in the northern Goldfields.
Tellus said in an “Australian first”, Sandy Ridge was now the safest option for the remediation of contaminated oil and gas infrastructure, end-of-life mines and Australia’s stockpile of low level radiological waste from medical diagnostic, treatment, research and other industries.
It said the approval from the WA Radiological Council and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation positioned Tellus as a key enabler for an environmentally responsible critical minerals processing industry.
The Sandy Ridge facility, 240km north-west of Kalgoorlie- Boulder, can accept up to 100,000 tonnes of hazardous waste a year, with plans to expand annual capacity to 280,000t.
Tellus chief executive Nate Smith said a licence to dispose of low-level radioactive material was only given to companies who could demonstrate the highest environmental safety standards.
“We are one of only a handful worldwide,” he said. “With this approval, we believe Sandy Ridge truly is the safest place for hazardous waste in Australia.”
Low-level radiological waste includes by-products from minerals and rare earth processing, water treatment and fertiliser production and personal protective equipment and clothing contaminated by radioactive material.
The West Australian
By Cheyanne Enscio
16 March 2023
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