Management
strategies
What do other countries
do?
Most countries have waste management
programmes in a similar state to our own.
Generally LLW has been dealt with by disposal.
Many other countries are engaged in research to find suitable
locations for ILW and HLW repositories.
France LLW/Short-lived
ILW Above-surface
facilities at Centre de la Manche and Centre de
l'Aube. Long-lived
ILW/HLW Underground rock
laboratory for studying the properties of clay
at 500 m depth under construction. Spain LLW/Short-lived
ILW Above-surface facility
at El Cabril. HLW/Spent
Fuel Currently researching a
deep repository. Finland LLW/Short-lived
ILW Underground mined
facilities at Olkiluoto and Loviisa (nuclear
power plant sites). Spent
Fuel Currently researching
locating a deep repository (500 m) in
crystalline basement at Olkiluoto. Sweden LLW/Short-lived
ILW Underground mined
facility at Forsmark. Spent Fuel Currently researching a
deep repository in crystalline basement. Netherlands
All
wastes Long-term interim
storage (100 years) at surface storage facility
at Vlissingen. Spent
fuel Research into deep
disposal in salt formations. USA
LLW Several surface
facilities for commercial and defence
wastes. ILW (long-lived
transuranic waste) The only country with
an operating facility deep underground (600 m)
in salt beds at Carlsbad, New Mexico. Defence
waste. Spent
fuel Currently researching
an underground repository in volcanic rock at
Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Commercial and defence
wastes.
(half-life < 30 years)
Currently stored in the reactor pools. Central
storage facility being considered.
Interim storage at nuclear plant sites.
Interim storage at a central facility (CLAB) in
an underground rock cavern.
Source: Galson Sciences Limited