New development: Solving an extremely hazardous problem. Disposing of toxic waste from Britain’s nuclear industry and nascent public engagement

ABSTRACT

Waste disposal from the use of nuclear technology for power generation poses international challenges in terms of its enduring, costly and highly toxic nature. This article focuses on the challenges faced by the UK given the lack of solutions that appear to stem from an absence of public debate and consensus. The problems of nuclear waste disposal are contextualized by considering the challenges of public acceptance, lack of funding provisions, cost uncertainties and new reactor construction.

IMPACT

The generation of low-carbon electricity by nuclear power stations remains significant in the UK, but the nuclear industry faces significant, and as yet unresolved, problems. For instance, decommissioning, clean-out and waste disposal are currently required for all non-operational nuclear facilities. However, disposal of highly toxic waste has proved problematic, thereby leading to today’s unsustainable scenario of storage in temporary facilities, including decommissioned nuclear submarines. While costs, timescales, and hazards of decommissioning and storage continue to be largely unscalable (HM Government 2015) there has been little informed public debate about these issues, perhaps a key ingredient in finding solutions, given current UK waste disposal strategies. The problem and risks associated with nuclear waste disposal are inter-generational, enduring, cost billions of pounds and potentially catastrophic. This article is being published to energize a structured public discussion on nuclear waste disposal by reviewing the problem and suggesting a way forward.

KEYWORDS:

• Nuclear industry
• nuclear risk
• nuclear submarines
• toxic industries
• waste management and disposal

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).