International co-operative research programmes on the disposal of high level and alpha-bearing radioactive waste

The need is stressed for international cooperation in assessing the options for the disposal of high-activity and long-lived alpha emitting wastes arising from the nuclear power industry. Research programmes in this field are currently being sponsored by international organizations including IAEA, OECD and EC with which the UK is mainly associated. By far the greatest effort is devoted to burial in vitrified form in deep geological formations on land, and a smaller effort to disposal on or under the deep ocean floor. Some of the cooperative research related to these options is outlined. (author)