2008 Joint Annual Meeting (5-9 Oct. 2008): Deep Geologic Isolation of An Emerging Issue

Germany has isolated chemically toxic wastes, including expired pharmaceuticals, herbicides, and pesticides, and residues from the production of these chemicals, in deep thick salt beds since 1972. German municipalities incinerate much of their household waste, including Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) discarded by consumers. Toxic incinerator residues are then also disposed of in mined-out sections of salt and potash mines. Each year, these mines create far more underground space than is needed for disposal.

Early EPA reports including a review of the first underground repository for hazardous waste in Germany do not identify any reason why U.S. salt and potash mines could not serve the same purpose; quite the opposite. Underground isolation of dangerous wastes in geologically old, thick, deep, and impermeable or confined formations has weathered all scientific and technical challenges and is internationally recognized best practice. No past or present deep geologic repository has aspirations for retrieval of disposed waste in favor of a better alternative. The “emerging issue” of proper disposal of PPCPs is quite amenable to be solved by “submerging” these materials deep underground.