The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) has solidified more than 250,000 gallons of Hanford tank waste into glass, representing a significant commissioning milestone and demonstrating continued momentum toward steady-state Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) operations.
“Our team continues to optimize the vitrification process as we progress through the hot commissioning phase,” said Brian Hartman, WTP project director and senior vice president with Bechtel, which designed, built and is commissioning the plant. “They processed over 110,000 gallons of waste in the last quarter. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise that is advancing the Hanford cleanup mission.”
In September alone, more than 39,000 gallons were vitrified.
The low-activity waste being treated is part of the 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste generated by plutonium production during World War II and the Cold War and stored in aging underground tanks located a few miles from the Columbia River.
“This progress is part of dual glass-plus-grout solutions that are advancing the Hanford tank waste mission,” according to Mat Irwin, the Hanford Field Office assistant manager for WTP. “Accelerating cleanup allows the Department to more rapidly repurpose federal land for revitalization and reindustrialization efforts.”
The Bechtel-led team has operated the plant in extended hot commissioning since October 2025. The hot commissioning process will continue for the next several months, build production consistency, and establish a steady rhythm for safe and sustained operations.
WTP uses a process called vitrification to transform the waste into a stable glass form. The waste is combined with glass-forming materials in the Low-Activity Waste Facility’s two 300-ton melters and heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. The glass is then sealed in stainless steel containers, each of which is 4 feet wide and 7.5 feet tall and weighs approximately seven metric tons when filled. The containers are delivered to Hanford’s Integrated Disposal Facility for long-term disposal.
The plant facilities can be viewed using the self-guided Hanford Virtual Tour available here.
About the Vit Plant
In southeastern Washington state, Bechtel National, Inc. is designing, constructing, and commissioning the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment plant for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, also known as the Vit Plant, will process and stabilize millions of gallons of radioactive and chemical waste currently stored at the Hanford Site.