How ANSTO manages its waste was recently identified as a key community issue in recently conducted market research, commissioned early this year.
ANSTO waste management will therefore be the key topic of ANSTO’s next bi-annual independently facilitated Community Discussion. A second topic will be how nuclear science is being used to tackle atmospheric pollution.
“It is important that residents have the opportunity to know how safely ANSTO manages its waste and publicly raise concerns,” said Andrew Humpherson, ANSTO’s General Manager, Public Affairs.
“ANSTO also wants to explain to people how nuclear science is being utilised to combat serious environmental issues like pollution and this is a key forum in which to do so.
“One of the reasons for conducting the community market research was to find out what people want to know about ANSTO, so we are therefore responding to these results by making waste and pollution the next community discussion topics.
“ANSTO seeks always to be open and honest about how it operates and wants to provide the community the opportunity to come along and hear more about waste and pollution management as well as have their questions answered.
“There are many misconceptions about the nature of ANSTO’s waste and how it is handled so we hope that this forum helps alleviate any concerns and enlighten people about the stringent methods we use to ensure waste is stored and managed safely.”
To start the discussion a presentation will be given by ANSTO’s Manager, Waste Operations, Lubi Dimitrovski, to outline the kind of waste ANSTO creates, what the radioactivity levels are and how it is safely managed and monitored. This will be followed by a presentation by Dr John Dodson, Head of ANSTO’s Institute for Environmental Research, on the key role nuclear science plays in tackling atmospheric pollution.
After the presentations the audience will be provided with an opportunity to ask questions, following which refreshments will be provided.
All residents are welcomed and encouraged to attend this Community Discussion so ANSTO has the opportunity to hear their views and provide answers.