Disposal

Nuclear disposal refers to the safe handling, storage, and permanent disposal of radioactive waste generated from nuclear reactors, fuel processing, and other nuclear applications. It’s a critical part of the nuclear fuel cycle and is categorized based on the level of radioactivity:

Main Stages of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Low-Level Waste (LLW)

Items like clothing, tools, filters, and medical waste that have been contaminated with small amounts of radioactivity
Typically disposed of in shallow land burial facilities.

Intermediate Level Waste (ILW)

Items like clothing, tools, filters, and medical waste that have been contaminated with small amounts of radioactivity
Typically disposed of in shallow land burial facilities.

High-Level Waste (HLW)

Primarily spent nuclear fuel from reactors or waste from reprocessing fuel.
Extremely radioactive and generates heat.
Requires long-term isolation and secure storage.

Disposal Methods: On-Site Storage (Temporary)

Spent fuel is first stored in spent fuel pools to cool down and then transferred to dry cask storage, usually on-site near reactors.

Disposal Methods: Deep Geological Repositories (Planned Permanent Solution)

HLW is sealed in containers and buried deep underground in stable rock formations, however, no such facility is yet operational in the U.S.

Disposal Methods: Reprocessing (Optional)

This method separates usable uranium and plutonium for reuse and reduces volume of HLW but increases complexity and proliferation risk.