Conversion of radioactive waste into glass begins at WA's Hanford site [View all]

Sixteen years after the original deadline, the Hanford nuclear reservation in south-central Washington state is finally converting its worst radioactive waste into a benign glass.

Glassification began Saturday evening, but the U.S. Department of Energy did not announce that the process was underway until Wednesday.

“As the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment facility, the plant’s successful startup represents a crucial achievement at this scale, demonstrating the ability to stabilize nuclear waste for safe, long-term disposal,” said Ray Geimer, Department of Energy’s Hanford manager.

Lawmakers in Washington’s congressional delegation applauded the milestone.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/10/15/conversion-of-radioactive-waste-into-glass-begins-at-was-hanford-site/