Which action helps reduce radioactive waste?

• A. Unpack parts and supplies in a clean area
• B. Separate radioactive and non-radioactive waste
• C. Use tools designated for RCA use
• D. All of the above

Answer: (A)

Reducing radioactive waste comes from preventing contamination from getting spread in the first place. Unpacking parts and supplies in a clean area directly limits where radioactive contaminants can go, so surfaces, tools, and items remain uncontaminated or contain only minimal contamination. By keeping the unpacking step in a designated clean space, you minimize the amount of material that becomes radioactive waste after cleanup, which lowers the overall waste generated.

Separating radioactive and non-radioactive waste is important for proper disposal and regulatory reasons, and using tools designated for RCA use helps prevent cross-contamination. Both practices improve waste handling and safety, but they don’t reduce the amount of radioactive waste created as directly as unpacking in a clean area does.

So the action that most directly reduces the volume of radioactive waste is unpacking in a clean area.