The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Nuclear energy creates the most dangerous form of radioactive waste. Where does Peter Dutton plan to put it?

  • Written by Rosemary Hill, Adjunct Professor, James Cook University
sign which says 'warning: nuclear waste'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s pledge to build seven nuclear energy plants, if elected, has triggered heated political debate – mostly about the costs and timetable of the plan. But the concept of nuclear energy in Australia must overcome an arguably even bigger hurdle: how to dispose of high-level nuclear waste.

Nuclear power is only a viable alternative to fossil fuel burning if there is somewhere to store the waste – and only if this can be done safely, without exorbitant cost and with community support.

A CSIRO analysis[1] last month showed there is no economic argument for nuclear energy in Australia, even without considering the substantial cost of waste disposal and storage. Include waste in the maths, and the Coalition’s proposal looks a whole lot worse.

What’s more, nuclear power stations produce high-level radioactive waste. It is dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years — and so far, the world has failed to deliver a safe, permanent storage method. Is this a problem Australia really wants to take on?

Two men and a woman on podium
Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s pledge to build seven nuclear energy plants has triggered heated political debate. Bianca Di Marche/AAP

What is high-level nuclear waste?

Nuclear reactors work by using fission, or the splitting of uranium atoms, to produce energy. Once the uranium has been used to produce energy it is considered “spent”. Spent fuel can either be disposed of or reprocessed[2] to recover and reuse some of its contents, such as plutonium[3]. Both spent and reprocessed nuclear fuel must eventually be disposed of.

Nuclear waste is classed according to how much radiation it emits – either low, intermediate or high. Nuclear power plants produce[4] high-level waste, which is radioactive for a very long time.

Negative health effects in humans from exposure to high-level radiation include birth defects[5], impaired tissue and organ functioning, and increased risk of cancer[6].

Nuclear waste only becomes safe after it decays. For high-level waste, this can take hundreds of thousands of years[7]. That means the waste must be disposed of and stored for a very, very long time.

sign which says 'warning: nuclear waste'
High-level nuclear waste can remain hazardous for thousands of centuries. Shutterstock

How is high-level nuclear waste currently stored?

No permanent and safe storage for high-level nuclear waste is yet in operation.

The current temporary options are either “wet” or “dry” storage. Wet storage[8] entails putting the waste in a pond and covering it with several metres of water to keep it cool. Dry storage[9] involves putting the waste in containers made of concrete and steel.

These options are not a long-term solution. They are vulnerable to corrosion[10] as well as natural disasters such as cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires and floods.

There are also risks from human-induced hazards such as war, terrorist attack, arson and accidents. For example, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has threatened the safety of Ukrainian nuclear facilities such as the Zaporizhzhya plant[11], where spent nuclear fuel rods are reportedly kept[12] in metal casks inside concrete containers in an open-air yard.

nuclear power station
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has threatened the safety of nuclear facilities such as the Zaporizhzhya plant. RUSSIAN EMERGENCIES MINISTRY HANDOUT/EPA

Can we put it underground?

Each reactor – even the small ones[13] – will produce several tonnes[14] of high-level waste each year – far more than the Coke can-sized amount of waste Dutton claims. The Coalition says[15] it would find a permanent solution for storing nuclear waste from the plants. This is easier said than done.

The only permanent storage solution on the cards around the world is to place it in a “deep geological repository”. This involves encasing the waste and lowering it into a chamber drilled far underground. There are many challenges[16] associated with this storage method. They include:

  • cost: the construction, decommissioning, closure and monitoring of such a facility in South Australia has been estimated at A$41 billion[17]

  • siting: the location must be geologically stable, to prevent waste from escaping over many thousands of years

  • transport: the further waste has to be moved, the greater the safety risks. This is relevant to the Coalition’s plan, under which seven nuclear sites would be distributed around Australia

  • preventing corrosion and leakage: the waste container must be sufficiently robust to corrosion[18] and the invasion of microbes. The shaft to the underground storage also needs to be sealed

  • social acceptance: in a democratic country such as Australia, communities must agree to host a nuclear waste site and be satisfied it is safe. This includes securing “free, prior and informed consent[19]” from Traditional Owners.

Finland is the country closest to realising this storage method. It has selected a site[20] for a deep geological repository 500 metres underground, and begun construction. But the project has taken decades and suffered numerous technical problems[21].

Scientists have also raised safety concerns[22], such as how the project will perform over the very long term, including during freezing of rocks[23] in the next ice age.

Neither the United Kingdom nor the United States has moved beyond temporary storage of high-level nuclear waste.

The Coalition must come clean

Other nations have struggled to find long-term solutions for nuclear waste storage. There is every reason to expect Australia would face the same problems.

Importantly, Australia has for decades failed to find[24] a suitable place for the long-term storage of small quantities of low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste from medical isotopes and the Lucas Heights research reactor. Even though these wastes are comparatively benign, every proposal has faced strong local opposition.

Ahead of the next federal election, the Coalition must explain to Australians how and where it intends to store radioactive waste from its nuclear plants. Without that detail, voters cannot fairly assess the plan.

References

  1. ^ CSIRO analysis (www.csiro.au)
  2. ^ disposed of or reprocessed (www.nrc.gov)
  3. ^ plutonium (world-nuclear.org)
  4. ^ produce (www.ansto.gov.au)
  5. ^ birth defects (emergency.cdc.gov)
  6. ^ increased risk of cancer (www.who.int)
  7. ^ hundreds of thousands of years (www.nrc.gov)
  8. ^ Wet storage (www.nrc.gov)
  9. ^ Dry storage (www.nrc.gov)
  10. ^ corrosion (sitn.hms.harvard.edu)
  11. ^ Zaporizhzhya plant (theconversation.com)
  12. ^ reportedly kept (www.theguardian.com)
  13. ^ small ones (news.stanford.edu)
  14. ^ produce several tonnes (www.smh.com.au)
  15. ^ Coalition says (tedobrien.com.au)
  16. ^ many challenges (www-pub.iaea.org)
  17. ^ estimated at A$41 billion (apo.org.au)
  18. ^ robust to corrosion (pure.psu.edu)
  19. ^ free, prior and informed consent (www.un.org)
  20. ^ selected a site (www.nwmo.ca)
  21. ^ numerous technical problems (link.springer.com)
  22. ^ safety concerns (www.bbc.com)
  23. ^ freezing of rocks (www.science.org)
  24. ^ failed to find (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/nuclear-energy-creates-the-most-dangerous-form-of-radioactive-waste-where-does-peter-dutton-plan-to-put-it-233213

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...