Japan's electric power industry is managing radioactive waste in a safe, secure and reliable manner, and is also cooperating with the implementing organization for the HLW disposal project.
High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW)
Reprocessing spent nuclear fuel recovers approx. 95% of reusable uranium and plutonium, and separates out the remaining approx. 5%, which is vitrified in stable form and temporarily stored at HLW storage facilities for 30-50 years before the final disposal.
Final Disposal of HLW
HLW will be disposal of in a stable geological formation at a depth of more than 300 meters. In October 2000, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NUMO) was established as the implementing organization for the final disposal of HLW.
Low-level Radioactive Waste
Low-level radioactive wastes are packed in metal drums and laid underground in the Low-level Radioactive Waste Storage Center in Rokkasho village, Aomori Prefecture.