Ultimate storage of radioactive waste in Germany - status report

In Germany, radioactive waste is classified either according to heat emissions (negligible to high), or according to the handling and precautions required until ultimate storage (conditioning, packaging, transport, interim storage in surface stores). In the latter case, one talks of low-activity, medium-activity and high-activity waste. The different approaches result from the fact that long-term safety effects on the geological storage strata must be considered, which include the problem of heat-up. (orig.)