Abstract: An apparatus, methods, and systems for assaying materials are disclosed using a combination of detectors that scan for areas of material non-uniformity, and assay the type and amount of radioactivity present in the material. Scanning detectors are provided to scan for non-uniform levels of radiation emanating from the material. If any non-uniformity is detected by the scanning detectors, the material non-uniformity is removed and handled with radioactive material protocols. The remaining material may then be subject to assay. If the material shows no signs of non-uniform radiation emission, the assay detectors are used to assay the material. If the concentration of any one or more radionuclides exceeds a predetermined limit, the assayed material is handled with radioactive material protocols.

Abstract: An article, such as a containment system (10), having sides (12) with walls (2) or (24) is made; in one method by using cast, cooled, melted, radioactive metal components where the melted metal has a specific activity over 130 Bq/g; or by providing a contaminated material in the form of a solid, liquid or mixture, and then mixing the contaminated material, to which no more than about 15 weight % of uncontaminated material has been reacted, with a binder, followed by forming the composition into a containment system and then curing it into a mass which contains both contaminated material, and uncontaminated binder acting as a matrix for the contaminated material. This article need not be a containment system but can be a wide variety of objects which are made out of radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and their mixtures.

Abstract: An article, such as a containment system (10), having sides (12) with walls (2) or (24) is made; in one method by using cast, cooled, melted, radioactive metal components where the melted metal has a specific activity over 130 Bq/g; or by providing a contaminated material in the form of a solid, liquid or mixture, and then mixing the contaminated material, to which no more than about 15 weight % of uncontaminated material has been reacted, with a binder, followed by forming the composition into a containment system and then curing it into a mass which contains both contaminated material, and uncontaminated binder acting as a matrix for the contaminated material. This article need not be a containment system but can be a wide variety of objects which are made out of radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and their mixtures.