A new nuclear material sorting and recycling facility is being built at the Bruce Energy Centre industrial park in Kincardine.
The new 42,000 square-foot Western Clean-Energy Sorting and Recycling (WCSR) facility by Laurentis Energy Partners is geared to become operational by Ontario Power Generation in 2022, according to a release.
Its purpose will be to sort low-level radioactive materials including used worker clothes, small tools, mops, and rags to reduce the amount sent to processing and increase the recycling of materials.
The facility is based in part on a project underway by Laurentis and McMaster University’s Clean-Energy Materials Sorting and Recycling Initiative in Hamilton, which is advancing nuclear energy innovations and supporting environmental solutions across the nuclear industry, according to Laurentis.
Project Manager at Laurentis Brad Ellsworth says, “building on the successes to-date from our research initiative in Hamilton, Laurentis is pleased to expand our presence in Bruce County and support this project by delivering a building and equipment that will meet Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) need for efficient, advanced and innovative sorting of nuclear materials.”
Ellsworth adds by sharing their combined expertise, they can proceed with their mission to advance nuclear-energy innovations and environmental solutions across the nuclear industry.
With the improved sorting of the WCSR and its increased processing, OPG will need fewer buildings than it would normally at the Bruce site to store nuclear by-products.
Director of Western Operations for OPG’s Nuclear Sustainability Services Jason Wooland says, “we can minimize the amount of nuclear by-products in storage, by carefully sorting and segregating what is clean, what is recyclable, and what can be processed to reduce the volume. That’s good news for the environment and it’s resulting in new jobs in Kincardine.”
The facility will hire 25 people when it opens, pending needed approvals.
Kincardine Mayor Gerry Glover says, “the WCSR is yet another example of nuclear excellence and innovation in our community.”
