Radioactive Scrap Sales
June 7, 2004 -- The trade press (American Metal Markets, 24 May; Metal Bulletin, 31
May) have reported that low-level radioactive nickel ingots have "passed preliminary tests" for possible
commerical recycling. These reports are based on a news item in the Paducah Sun of Paducha Kentucky.
To the best of the knowledge of the Nickel Institute, the item is based on conversations between a commerical
recycling firm and a local organisation engaged in promoting employment in the Paducah region. There is no
indication that the United States Department of Energy is involved. There is no further information on the
nature of the "preliminary" tests and whether they were technical or health-based in nature.
The Nickel Institute remains opposed to the unrestricted release of low-level metal scrap, including scrap
nickel, and is a member of the Metals Industry Recycling Coalition (MIRC) that speaks for the broad metals
industry on this issue.
Follow this link for more on the history of this
issue, the existing moratorium on such sales, and the formal MIRC position on radioactivity and scrap
metal.
