Getting Rid of Nuclear Waste

Nuclear energy has tremendous potential and should be exploited. A tiny amount of nuclear fuel can produce an incredibly large amount of electricity. Nuclear power, as we know, produces highly radioactive byproducts that must be disposed of. One option that should be pursued is the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Reprocessing of spent fuel reduces the amount of radioactive waste and by reusing the fuel, we can extract several times more energy from it. Even with reprocessing, there still is some radioactive waste to dispose of, but I think there is a simple solution to high level nuclear waste. It's a solution that seems so obvious that I'm supprised that no one has thought of it. The solution is to take the high level radioactive waste and dilute it by mixing it with large amounts of non-radioactive material, such as lead or glass. The process of diluting the waste would need to be done robotically to prevent people from being exposed to the radioactivity, but if the waste could be diluted down to the the levels of radioactivity found natuarally in uranium ore, the diluted waste could be safely disposed of, without the need for high-security underground storage facilities like the one being built in Nevada. Diluting the waste would also make it safer to transport, as diluting would reduce the overall radioactivity of the material being transported. Nuclear energy has the potential to be part of the solution to the energy crisis. Nuclear energy can provide unimaginible amounts of electrical power from relatively small amounts of fuel and it produces no greenhouse gases or air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (which can produce acid rain). With the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel and the dilution to high level radioactive waste, nuclear energy may have an even brighter future.

As you mention Gordon, it has the potential to be part of the solution, but I think there is a lot of work to be done before considering the nuclear industry and recycling of nuclear waste as viable. I don't think it's the only answer either. Radioactive waste in any form is still radioactive. I have seen the dump sites for this stuff, and it freaks me out. Personally I would prefer to see us investigate and utilize energy forms like wind and solar power. There's plenty of it, it's free and it's clean...and right now it's drying my laundry.

There is something disturbing about nuclear power plants, and disposal of waste is a major problem, yet France uses it almost exclusively and has never had anything bad happen. I have no idea how they dispose of the waste in a relatively small country. Gordon's idea seems like a good one.

I'm not a fan of nuclear power. I'm working on a major project to clean up the Hanford nuclear site in Washington and it is very sad to learn and see the leaks of radioactive waste that have occurred over the years. Most people don't even know that leaks are still occurring, going right into the Columbia River. The area will never be opened to the public again (ever), and most of the radioactive substances will just be burried. Not a real solution. Wind, solar, and other means are much cleaner forms of energy without the possible long-term effects.