Global Practices

The policies and procedures of most other nations with large nuclear programs are quite similar to those of the US.

France, who relies more heavily on nuclear power than most countries, has two repositories designated for low-level waste. They are bunker style facilities similar to those in the US. Their high-level radioactive waste is reprocessed - that is, the uranium is extracted for later use and the rest is incorporated into glass (vitrification) at high temperatures. This highly radioactive glass is poured into sealed stainless steel containers. Because they give off so much heat, they could not safely be buried at a site like Yucca Mountain. Instead, they are stored and constantly cooled in ventilated shafts at one nuclear plant. (reference)

Germany, like France, vitrifies their high-level waste. However, recent changes in the law forbid the containers to be directly stored; they must remain at an interim storage site until they are sufficiently cool for permanent burial. Otherwise, the containers could heat the host rock more than 100 degrees. In 1965, an underground laboratory was used as an experimental permanent repository for high-level waste. Now, like the US, Germany is planning a large permanent storage facility.(reference)

England's policies differ somewhat from other countries. All low and intermediate level waste from power plants are stored on site. High-level waste (spent fuel) travels to Cumbria for vitrification and storage in a specially designed facility. (reference)

For information on other countries, please see http://www.ymp.gov/links/international.htm