Make haste on waste

Specialists in nuclear waste technology this week again called for a speedy decision on the UK’s long-term strategy for storage of its stockpile of radioactive material.

A conference in London, called to discuss progress in the immobilisation and storage of waste, was told that nations around the world are now actively exploring suitable sites for a deep-storage facility capable of safely entombing the most hazardous material for tens of thousands of years.

The UK, however, is yet to make a decision on the best option for long-term disposal, with the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) not due to report to the government until next year. Even then, it is unclear how quickly any progress on its recommendations will be made.

Prof Bill Lee of the Immobilisation Science Laboratory (ISL) at Sheffield University, which organised the conference, said progress was being made in developing more effective techniques and materials to render intermediate and high-level waste into stable forms that can be transported and stored.