Managing nuclear wastes

Like all other industries, the nuclear industry, civilian and military, produces wastes - substances without use value that are to be eliminated. In comparison with other industries, the quantities and nature of these wastes are relatively well known (cf. Andra's national inventory: https://inventaire.andra.fr/). Although these wastes are now being stored in good conditions, nuclear waste management is regularly presented as a major obstruction that will keep this industry from attaining the status of being 'sustainable'. Why? Partly owing to the very nature of these wastes: they are radioactive, hence potentially dangerous if poorly managed. But above all because they have a much longer life cycle than ordinary wastes. Time is a key factor in the management of radioactive wastes. (authors)