Worldwide status in nuclear waste management

During the past 10 years, significant resources have been allocated to research and development related to nuclear waste disposal. Some countries have rejected the reprocessing option while the countries having extensive nuclear energy programme are studying advanced reprocessing methods. High-level wastes are planned to be disposed of in deep repositories in crystalline rock, salt formation or sedimentary layer. Low- and intermediate level wastes are disposed of at shallow depth or in rock cavities. In many countries the waste management programmes have been substantially delayed due to non-technical reasons. In Finland no such delays have so far occurred