I recently read in a Alternative Energy Facts and Statistics book that even though it is technically possible to recycle spent nuclear fuel, reducing waste to 1/5 what it once was, it is illegal to do so in the US. Is this true? If so, why is it illegal?
Educated guess here…
Assuming the statement in the OP is true, it probably has something to to with the fact that reprocessing the spent fuel results in more enriched fuel. If the fuel is enriched enough, it considered to be weapons-grade. This is the same reason that the concept of breeder reactors was abandoned in the U.S. (The plutonium produced by the breeder reactors could be used equally well for power production or bombs.)
When Reagan was running for President or perhaps after he had become President, he made some comment along the lines that the entire amount of nuclear waste from US power plants could fit under a desk.
The prohibition robby mentioned was in effect at the time Reagan made the comment–apparently he wasn’t aware of it.
Robby is close.
The by product made when recycling uranium is plutonium. The Uranium rods, after much use, decay to many different things, but one is highly radioactive plutonium. In order to recycle the rods, you need to seperate the plutonium from the rods. This leaves you with a lot of plutonium sitting around that could be used for bombs. Right now, the US doesn’t recycle spent rods for this reason. The odd thing, is that the Plutonium that is seperated isn’t weapons grade, and aparently making it that way is very difficult. Other countries do recycle, though.
Also, as far as I remember, breeder reactors were shut down because none of them worked, and the ones that were running met with all sorts of accidents. It’s been a while since I read up on them, but I’m fairly sure it wasn’t terrorist threat that shut them down.