A REVIEW OF WASTE-DISPOSAL PROGRAMS OVERSEAS

This Paper gives an overview of overseas disposal programmes for solid radioactive waste, concentrating on those of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Community. The approach adopted addresses the disposal of short-lived wastes in near-surface and mined facilities, and then looks at the disposal of longer-lived wastes in deep geological repositories. There is a brief mention of the countries of Eastern Europe, which are undergoing change as a result of political and economic reorganization. Successful disposal policies are being implemented in many countries. Many have been carrying out operational waste disposal for many years. There is international consensus that deep disposal is the right answer for long-lived wastes and a feature of many investigation programmes is some form of underground laboratory, similar in concept to Nirex's Rock Characterization Facility proposal for Sellafield. Nirex's target date for its repository compares well with the intended operating dates of deep facilities in other countries.