Introduction

Radioactive waste disposal, and in particular the inability of the nuclear energy community to establish any repository for high-level waste and spent fuel (HLW/SF) is one of the factors that significantly influence public and political acceptability of this energy technology. In many quarters the safe handling and disposal of radioactive waste is regarded as somehow uniquely difficult. The objective of this study is to consider radioactive waste in the wider context of the conventional hazardous waste disposal issues of a modern industrial society and in this way to allow a more balanced perspective of the issues involved. A second theme then also explores the waste issues associated with the probable future major low carbon release alternative electricity generating technology, coal fired generation equipped with carbon capture and storage.