"The U.S. commercial power industry alone has generated more waste (nuclear fuel that is "spent" and is no longer efficient at generating power) than any other country—nearly 80,000 metric tons. This spent nuclear fuel, which can pose serious risks to humans and the environment, is enough to fill a football field about 20 meters deep. The U.S. government’s nuclear weapons program has generated spent nuclear fuel as well as high-level radioactive waste and accounts for most of the rest of the total at about 14,000 metric tons, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). For the most part, this waste is stored where it was generated—at 80 sites in 35 states. The amount of waste is expected to increase to about 140,000 metric tons over the next several decades. However, there is still no disposal site in the United States."
https://www.gao.gov/key_issues/disposal_of_highlevel_nuclear...
That's not actually a lot is it?
Also, all commercial reactors already pay a fee for nuclear waste disposal. There is tons and tons of money available that has been stored for 50+ years.
The problem is that the government is totally incompetent and instead of developing a solution the money accumulates and politicians are in deadlock.
Both the solution for long term storage for the US has basically been known since the 50 (not Nevada) and the way to reduce the 'waste' has also been known since the 60s. That noting is actually done is not a technical issue.
However, commercial 'waste' is actually valuable material that we can easily store for 100 of years without much trouble or cost, and its not very dangerous either. This 'waste' will actually serve as a fuel for future reactors. Even if you believe that the whole nuclear energy industry will totally collapse and go away. The fees collected would allow for the development of a waste destroying reactor.
Commercial reactor waste is not anywhere near the same kind of beast. It’s contained and easily disposed of when the US eventually embraces science again. Other countries don’t have as much problem and are building deep geologic repositories. Canada even let local communities bid to take the waste.
If your in the PNW take a visit to Hanford when you can. What they did on these DOE sites during the nuclear weapons programs is absurd to think about with what we know today. They just buried all kinds of random toxic stuff everywhere and didn’t even keep records.
