The NIMBY problems are not just for the storage location either. Nobody want nuclear waste trucked or shipped by rail through their region. Imagine if the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment had been carrying casks of nuclear waste.
While valid, the reason they’re encased in those big concrete pillars is to assure they’re safe for transport, and can survive accidents without leakage.
ETA: I should admit not ALL of our waste has been processed into vitrified HLW or packed for transport, but these processes are undergone before waste is shipped to a repository.
The NIMBY problems are not just for the storage location either. Nobody want nuclear waste trucked or shipped by rail through their region. Imagine if the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment had been carrying casks of nuclear waste.
While valid, the reason they’re encased in those big concrete pillars is to assure they’re safe for transport, and can survive accidents without leakage.
ETA: I should admit not ALL of our waste has been processed into vitrified HLW or packed for transport, but these processes are undergone before waste is shipped to a repository.