As currently envisaged, the UK Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) will be between 200 metres and 1000 metres underground. At this depth, the waste will be protected from environmental extremes and from the long-term effects of future ice ages. Physical and chemical barriers, including the solid form of the radioactive waste, its packaging, the backfill material and the stable geological environment in which the facility is sited, will work together to ensure safety. While science and technology offer many of the solutions to managing radioactive waste, another key challenge is to ensure that future generations retain knowledge and memory of the repository. This means being aware that the facility lies deep underground, hundreds or thousands of years after its closure and understanding the nature of its contents.
Chemistry World 22nd Sept 2016 read more »