NIRS and Coalition Against Nuclear Energy South Africa are joining forces to stop the international threat to radioactive contamination of the world’s recycled metal supply. In the U.S., DOE threatens to release metal from radioactive areas of the atomic bomb complex and in South Africa the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) is poised to license three radioactive metal smelters, clearly indicating the intent to import radioactive metal from other countries and raising concerns about violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and Pelindaba Treaty.

Press release from eight South African groups on campaign against licensing of radioactive metal smelters and "recycling."

was the deadline for public comments on an Environmental Assessment by the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to reverse its ban on release of metal from radioactive areas of their nuclear weapons sites and laboratories, immediately allowing 14,000 tons of steel, copper, aluminum and iron into everyday recycling to make common household items, personal use items, building supplies, etc. Since the policy that prevents nuclear metal from getting out would be lifted, there would be no limit on the amount of radioactive metal that could be let out in the future.