What is underground waste disposal?

• Contaminated wastes intended for permanent removal from the biosphere are deposited at underground waste disposal facilities.
• These wastes are deposited in inactive mining fields of potash and salt mines, which have been safely closed off against the remaining mine working. 
• They are situated below the water-bearing strata, at depths of 500 to 800 metres.
• They are sealed off from the environment by mighty salt layers and geological formations.

Waste disposal procedure  

Waste types

Typical wastes suitable for underground depositing are:

• wastes containing cyanide or mercury
• residues from incinerators 
• filter and ball miss dusts