Executive summary

A solution to the problem of long-term radioactive waste management (RWM) comprises a technical and social dimension, i.e. it must not only be technically achievable, but also legally and politically feasible and publicly acceptable. The technical solutions have to ensure beyond reasonable doubt safe and secure containment of long-lived highly radioactive waste for the indefinite/distant future and avoidance of undue burdens on future generations. Despite the perceived link between RWM and the controversial debate on nuclear power production the problem of RWM is considered as one which has to be solved no matter which perspectives are foreseen or debated concerning nuclear power production: the additional amount of radioactive waste due operating time extension is small compared to the existing stocks of radioactive waste. The fact that a solution of the RWM problem would disprove a key argument against nuclear power is not a justified reason to hinder such a solution. There is a wide variety of radioactive wastes arising from several activities, the most important one (in Germany) being nuclear power production. For some radioactive materials it is a matter of definition and strategy whether they are considered as resource or waste. In particular, this applies to irradiated spent fuel (SNF).