5 stories on Hanford cleanup moving into a new era
The curated articles focus on the progress and challenges in treating Hanford’s radioactive tank waste by turning it into glass, a process called vitrification. They discuss key moments such as the beginning of waste transfers, plant operations to produce glassified waste, and the transport of containers to a lined landfill.
Hanford workers have started transferring radioactive tank waste to the vitrification plant for treatment. The process uses a melter to turn the waste into glass. The first containers filled with glassified waste have been moved for disposal in a lined landfill built to prevent groundwater contamination. State regulators continue to monitor these activities closely. Leaders from Washington state and stakeholders react to news with both celebration and concern, especially regarding the Department of Energy’s plans and communications. Recent changes in site leadership and funding discussions raise questions about the project’s future direction.
NO. 1: A NEW LEADER WILL DIRECT WORK WITH HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE HANFORD WASTE
The Department of Energy contractor that operates a key radioactive waste laboratory at the Hanford nuclear site has named a new leader. | Published September 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary
NO. 2: ‘HISTORIC’ TRANSFER OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE TO MASSIVE EASTERN WA TREATMENT PLANT
Radioactive waste held in underground tanks has begun to be transferred for the first time to the massive Hanford nuclear site vitrification plant for long-awaited treatment for disposal. | Published October 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary
NO. 3: WA NUCLEAR SITE MAKES HISTORY. RADIOACTIVE WASTE PLANT LAUNCHES
Twenty-three years and 70 days after workers began pouring concrete to build the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, the plant has turned radioactive and hazardous chemical waste into a stable glass form for disposal. | Published October 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary
NO. 4: WA, NORTHWEST LEADERS REACT TO ‘HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT DECADES IN THE MAKING’ AT HANFORD NUCLEAR SITE
Washington state and local leaders praised Wednesday’s historic launch of the radioactive waste treatment plant, or vitrification plant, at Hanford near Richland. | Published October 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tri-City Herald staff
NO. 5: RADIOACTIVE WASTE CONTAINERS FINALLY ON THE MOVE AT EASTERN WA NUCLEAR SITE
The first containers of glassified Hanford tank waste have been delivered to their final destination, the Integrated Disposal Facility, a lined landfill at the center of the Hanford nuclear site. | Published November 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.