The spent fuel rods are one of the most complex wastes that exist. They can’t simply be disposed of like common household trash or sent for recycling because there is more to these than meets the eye.
Each type needs a specific storage container in order for them not to leak out radiation during transportation, insertion into an underground repository (reprocessing plant) where it will stay securely stored until needed again, and eventually getting recycled back into new nuclear materials.
Originally published on quora @sequoia-global
