Bechtel has announced the start of nuclear vitrification operations at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) at the Hanford Site in Washington state, marking a major step in cleaning up legacy radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project and the Cold War era.
The first batch of radioactive and chemical waste has been successfully converted into stable glass, reducing long-term environmental risks and ensuring safer disposal. As the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment facility, the WTP’s successful startup is a significant achievement in nuclear waste management.
“This milestone represents the realization of a vision shared by many,” said Dena Volovar, President of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental business. “It reflects decades of teamwork, innovation, and partnership with our customer to solve one of the nation’s most complex environmental challenges—safely and permanently. Together with the Department of Energy, the state of Washington, and our partners, we’ve turned vitrification into a reality at Hanford. It’s an important step forward in protecting the Columbia River, surrounding communities, and future generations.”
Bechtel designed, built, and commissioned the WTP for the U.S. Department of Energy. The vitrification process blends radioactive tank waste with glass-forming materials and heats it to 2,100°F (1,149°C) inside two 300-ton melters. The molten mixture is then poured into stainless-steel containers, forming a stable glass for safe, long-term storage.
In the coming months, Bechtel’s project team will continue feeding waste and glass-forming materials into the melters, filling stainless-steel containers, and transporting them to the Hanford Site’s Integrated Disposal Facility. Once in full operation, the plant will process an average of 5,300 gallons of tank waste per day.
Bechtel’s success at Hanford marks a major advancement in environmental remediation and demonstrates its long-standing commitment to building a cleaner, safer world.
For more information, visit bechtel.com.
