Nuclear waste management faces scrutiny in Germany and Switzerland

The National Monitoring Body (NBG) has submitted a new activity report to the German Bundestag and Bundesrat regarding the search for a high-level radioactive waste repository. A primary concern raised is the interim storage of highly radioactive waste, which is currently held at over 15 locations in Germany. The NBG warns that this surface storage is unplanned and may persist for approximately 100 years, presenting increasing security risks and challenges. The body advocates for viewing interim and final storage as a unified, shared task.

In Switzerland, the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) has released a new issue of its magazine, ‘500m+’, titled ‘Trash’. The publication features a reportage exploring the potential and limitations of recycling spent nuclear fuel. The research includes investigations into reprocessing facilities in La Hague, France, as well as studies conducted at the Paul Scherrer Institute, while examining why Switzerland has opted for a deep geological repository instead of large-scale recycling.