When nuclei split, this is called fission and this is how nuclear energy is derived - from the splitting of Uranium-235. The waste product of Uranium splitting is Plutonium-239; which is a hazardous waste. Let's make a comparison. When at home, trash gets thrown away in the trash can; well, in this case Plutonium is a radioactive waste product whose decay is measured by its half-life. The half-life of plutonium is 24,000 years. However, after 24,000 years Plutonium is still hazardous. Plutonium becomes safe to handle after 240,000 years.
It should also be mentioned that there were 441 nuclear reactors in the world as of February 2002 and just one reactor - yes, one reactor - produces 20 to 30 tons of waste in one year. Just since 2002, that is roughly 66,150 tons of nuclear waste. I do not know about you readers out there but that means that we have to store 66 thousand tons of waste for 240 thousand years and each year that amount of storage increases. However, unlike with trash where it goes to trash dumps, there is no safe way to store nuclear waste. Each nuclear facility stores their waste on site. So, what happens in 100 years? Where will that waste be stored?
While there are no air pollutants and very little CO2 emissions, there are other renewable energy sources that do not have waste products that can be used. For example - wind, solar and water. While each of these energy sources require that the wind be blowing, the sun be shining and water to be flowing, at any given point anywhere around the world, at least one of these energy sources is occurring and can be harnessed. There needs to be a truly safe storage system implemented in order to safely store the waste.
Jason Burns
York College of Pennsylvania
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