How Nuclear Waste Disposal Works

Waste management infrastructure for nuclear power plants is essential because reactors produce waste that is deadly if mismanaged.

This radioactively-contaminated container once used to transport nuclear fuel rods at the Greifswald former nuclear power plant at the Zwischenlager Nord temporary nuclear waste storage facility in Lubmin, Germany. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Nuclear is a useful source of efficient and clean energy but they produce radioactive waste that is deadly if mismanaged, making disposal infrastructure crucial.

Nuclear power plants mainly produce lower and intermediate levels of radioactive waste during regular cleaning activities, but they also produce high-level waste by burning uranium fuel.