Management of Radioactive Waste

Electricity production from nuclear power does not emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the air. However, it generates radioactive wastesin solid, liquid, and gaseous forms that can contaminate the environment and create a hazard for people’s health if not properly controlled and managed. Therefore, radioactive wastesmust be handled in a safe way to protect people and the environment. Various types of radioactive wasteexist and proper disposal depends on the properties of the waste. This chapter focuses on nuclear wastegeneration, handling, storage and disposal. It first gives the classification of nuclear wastesaccording to their radioactive content and half-life, making comparisons with other hazardous wasteand wastefrom other sources of electricity generation. Then, it illustrates the typical composition of nuclear spent fuel, the time evolution of its radioactivity, and the safe methods for its final disposal. Finally, it describes the studies in progress for significantly reducing the volume and radiotoxicity of nuclear wastesand for shortening the very long time for which they must be stored safely.