Country

Policy

Facilities and progress towards final repositories

Belgium

Reprocessing

Central waste storage and underground laboratory established. Construction of repository to begin about 2035

Canada

Direct disposal

Underground repository laboratory established. Repository planned for use in 2025

China

Reprocessing

Central used fuel storage in LanZhou

Finland

Direct disposal

Used fuel storages in operation. Low and intermediate-level repositories in operation since 1992. Site near Olkiluoto selected for deep repository for used fuel from 2020

France

Reprocessing

Two facilities for storage of short-lived wastes. Site selection studies underway for deep geological repository for commissioning in 2020

Germany

Reprocessing but moving to direct disposal

Low-level waste sites in use since 1975. Intermediate-level wastes stored at Ahaus. Used fuel storage at Ahaus and Gorleben. High-level repository to be operational after 2010

India

Reprocessing

Research on deep geological disposal for high-level waste

Japan

Reprocessing

Low-level waste repository in operation. High-level waste storage facility at Rokkasho-mura since 1995. Investigations for deep geological repository site begun, to operate from 2035

Russia

Reprocessing

Sites for final disposal under investigation. Central repository for low and intermediate-level wastes planned from 2008

South Korea

Direct disposal

Central interim high-level waste store planned for 2016. Central low and intermediate-level repository planned from 2008. Investigating deep high-level waste repository sites.

Spain

Direct disposal

Low and intermediate-level waste repository in operation. Final high-level waste repository site selection program for commissioning in 2020

Sweden

Direct disposal

Central used fuel storage facility in operation since 1985. Final repository for low to intermediate waste in operation since 1988. Underground research laboratory for high-level waste repository. Site selection for repository in two volunteered locations.

Switzerland

Reprocessing

Central interim storage for high-level wastes at Zwilag since 2001. Central low and intermediate-level storages operating since 1993. Underground research laboratory for high-level waste repository, with deep repository to be finished by 2020

United Kingdom

Reprocessing

Low-level waste repository in operation since 1959. High-level waste is vitrified and stored at Sellafield. Underground high-level waste repository envisaged.

United States

Direct disposal but moving to reprocessing

Three low-level waste sites in operation. Decision in 2002 to proceed with Yucca Mountain geological repository for 70,000 tonnes used fuel & HLW.