Timestamp
1954 - 2016
Data Sources
IAEA Report: Status and Trends in Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management – The main report providing data and insights on global waste management efforts. European Commission, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), World Nuclear Association
Dataset Link
Visualization (1)
- Tool Used: Flourish
- Chart Type: Sunburst Chart
- Description:
The image represents a radial visualization categorizing radioactive waste based on its radioactivity levels and volume proportions. It is divided into several concentric layers
Visualization (2)
- Tool Used: Photopea
- Chart Type: Infographic
- Description:
The image compares the radioactive waste produced annually by a single coal-fired power plant and a single nuclear-based one, focusing on their characteristics, volume, and potential impact.
Insights
Most waste is low-level and minimally hazardous. Public concerns shouldn't focus only the small but significant high-level waste (which still poses long-term challenges) Coal-fired power plants produce waste six times larger in volume (36,000 tonnes) compared to nuclear power plants (6,290 tonnes). However, coal waste is less concentrated in terms of radioactivity but is far more pervasive due to its diffuse nature. Nuclear waste is highly regulated, with zero direct exposure, highlighting the technological superiority of nuclear waste management.
Conclusion
International collaboration, sustainable practices, and public engagement are essential for effective waste management. While advanced technologies show promise, challenges like prolonged storage and uneven progress across countries highlight the need for continued innovation and cooperation. Public fears around nuclear waste often overlook the larger, poorly managed risks of coal waste. Greater emphasis should be placed on better regulation of coal waste, as it presents a diffuse but significant hazard. The nuclear energy sector demonstrates the feasibility of safely managing radioactive waste with stringent controls.