Nuclear fuel: recycle or dispose? how? where? when?

Abstract

This paper considers the broad issues raised by the increasing inventory of stored used fuel from nuclear power stations worldwide. It reviews nuclear waste disposal, concluding that deep geological disposal can be safely achieved, but will depend crucially on simple transparent processes and the achievement of consensus. As the technology is now available, there is every reason to proceed with disposal as soon as the consensus can be achieved. The effects of recycling by reprocessing on the disposal task are examined. Reprocessing always reduces the volume of high level waste for disposal, usually reduces the high+intermediate volume, and, given recycling of uranium and plutonium, also decreases the total waste volume. As the quantifiable risks from reprocessing are very small, reprocessing is a viable waste treatment and recycling process, and it is for the nuclear utilities to determine whether it fits their strategic and commercial needs. Certainly recycling by reprocessing has a valid place in the programme, particularly in the UK. The sustainability adage that 'recycling is good' and the imperative that 'the polluter pays' are both relevant to the nuclear industry. Both can be furthered by a continuation of reprocessing in the world in general. In the UK in particular, only the continuation of reprocessing can provide the income stream which can both fund and motivate the safe, timely cleanup of much of the UK's historic legacy of nuclear waste.