Nuclear Waste Management
- Recently nuclear power has entered many discussions as world energy needs rise and oil reserves diminish.
- Most opponents of nuclear power point to two main arguments: meltdowns and nuclear waste.
- Nuclear waste is any form of byproduct or end product that releases radioactivity.
- How to safely dispose of nuclear waste is pivotal for the continued operation of nuclear power plants, safety of people living around dump sites, and prevention of proliferation of nuclear materials to non-nuclear states.
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Most nuclear waste comes from the byproducts of the nuclear fuel cycle. The cycle typically is split into three sections: front end, service period, and back end. There can be intermediate stages that include the reprocessing of nuclear waste elements.
