[en] For experts from all over the world the disposal of radioactive waste in deep geological formations is considered to be a safe and final solution to the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Despite this fact the public does not seem to be very much in favour of this concept, and questions concerning the long-term safety of an underground waste repository are often raised, although the extremely long time-scale of geological processes is common knowledge. The greater the uncertainty is in this respect, the greater is the lack of acceptance. Lack of acceptance is a problem which is being encountered not only in the nuclear field but also with many other technologies and projects in the industrialized world. With respect to waste and waste disposal this problem is known as the NiMBy-syndrome which states that nobody wants the necessary disposal sites in his backyard while, on the other side, he is participating in all industrial benefits and, in doing so, producing continuously large amounts of waste of different types. Although it is a serious problem to our and all future generations, it seems to be symptomatic for the present industrial society that none of the politicians being responsible have come up with practical concepts to overcome this situation. The basic difficulty is that modern technologies are very complex so that a simple assessment of hazards and risks is virtually not possible for non-experts. That is why emotions play a major part in any discussion on new technologies, particularly on nuclear energy, and together with it also on radioactive waste disposal. (author). 4 refs., 2 figs