Switzerland plans to bury nuclear-waste problem

Journal Article · · Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:7050335

McKinley, I G; McCombie, C ^[1]

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1. National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste, Wettingen (Switzerland)

In Switzerland, those who generate nuclear waste are responsible for its management. To fulfill that responsibility, the Swiss nuclear power utilities and other nuclear-waste-producing industries formed the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste in 1972, explain Ian McKinley and Charles McCombie of the cooperative. Switzerland plans two separate repositories: one for low-level, short-lived nuclear waste and another for high-level and long-lived wastes. Disposal methods for the high-level nuclear waste will combine deep-seated geologic rock formations, highly compacted clay, and artificial barriers of steel and glass. A 1985 nuclear-waste cooperative study suggests that this method may exceed safety guidelines. Rather than rely on each of the barriers individually, as other nations' disposal methods have done, the Swiss approach depends on the collective efficiency of the barriers.

• OSTI ID: 7050335
• Journal Information: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States) Vol. 9:3; ISSN FARPEL; ISSN 0887-8218
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EUROPE
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SWITZERLAND
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WESTERN EUROPE