Irradiated fuel management in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has a long-established nuclear generating program starting in 1956. In 1985, 20% of electricity available from the UK public supply came from nuclear power. The current management strategy for the UK irradiated fuel and reprocessing waste is to: 1) continue to reprocess spent Magnox and AGR fuel separating waste products and the recovery of uranium and plutonium; 2) store high-level liquid waste until the Windscale vitrification plant comes on line later in 1980's; 3) store vitrified waste in engineered stores at the surface for at least 50 years before disposal; 4) develop scientific and technical knowledge on alternatives for disposal of HLW; and 5) proceed with establishing disposal routes for the LLW and MLW from reprocessing, nuclear power station operation and other industrial and medical uses. All aspects connected with the national programme on storage, reprocessing, transport and future activities in this subject field are presented. (author)