Every technical process produces waste which can be reused or which has to be disposed of in a safe way. This also applies to all kinds of radioactive waste produced by utility companies or other technical plants, by medicine and by research institutions.

Origin of radioactive waste in Germany In the Federal Republic of Germany, the only way nuclear power plants were allowed to dispose of their waste until 1994 was by reprocessing irradiated fuel assemblies. Since 1994, the legislator has allowed the direct disposal of burnt fuel assemblies as a second method of disposal. The amendment of the Atomic Energy Act in 2002 limited the reprocessing of fuel assemblies to the quantities which had already been agreed upon by contract. These fuel assemblies can still be delivered to France or Great Britain until mid-2005. Thereafter, the delivery of fuel assemblies to reprocessing plants is no longer permissible.

The waste producers are responsible for the first steps of disposal, i. e. transport, conditioning and intermediate storage. The Federal Government is legally obligated to take care of the last step, the final disposal.