Differences in the disposal of solidified high level radioactive wastes and spent fuel

Issues relating to the disposal of spent nuclear fuel elements and solidified high level radioactive wastes are discussed. Differences are noted in the hazards resulting from the two types of waste, the engineering of repositories for each, the resource value of the spent fuel, and the immobilization of the wastes at their source. Both spent fuel elements and solidified high level wastes can be safely stored in geological media. Rather than focusing on the most efficient repository design, attention should turn to a guaranteed safe system where disposal problems would be minimized. Specific suggestions for such a system are presented