Nuclear Watch: Japan nuclear waste can be directly disposed of

[caraher]

1. Bear in mind the decision context

They're basically talking about whether to continue to try to reprocess the fuel, extracting and using the plutonium in reactors, or dispose of it without reprocessing. They have the waste now, either way; the time to decide not to have it at all is long past.

Reprocessing only makes sense in the context of an ongoing commitment to nuclear (since in that scheme you reduce the waste by using it to fuel reactors such that, if all goes well, in the end you actually wind up with less waste). If you want to shut down all reactors, this direct disposal is really the only option (whether they do it in Japan or convince someone else to take it off their hands).