About Nuclear Waste Disposal

Nuclear waste is some of the most dangerous material in existence. Although the U.S. produces a large amount of radioactive waste, they have policies and procedures set up to ensure that nuclear waste does not enter the municipal waste stream.

Significance

• Nuclear waste can damage and contaminate the environment and humans for many years. The nuclear waste disposal process properly segregates this hazardous material, while minimizing risks, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Function

• The U.S. produces about 2,000 metric tons of nuclear waste per year, and total nuclear waste since the 1960s totals about 60,000 metric tons, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. Much of this waste is in the form of spent nuclear material from nuclear power plants.

Time Frame

• Nuclear waste disposal protocols specify different storage times for low-level and high-level waste. Low-level wastes usually emit safe levels of radiation after 100 years of storage, but can take as long as 500 years to become safe, according to the NEI. High-level waste can take thousands of years, according to the EPA.

Types

• Spent nuclear fuel disposal currently only stores radioactive waste in barrels or containers until the waste decays to safe levels. Recycling nuclear waste can be done, but the United States does not currently do this, according to the NEI.

Fun Fact

• The EPA and the federal government are working together to store most of the nation's radioactive waste in one large repository inside Yucca Mountain in Nevada.