ABSTRACT
Currently most waste is retained in specially built stores pending the construction of a final disposal facility. Government policy is that disposal for ILW and some LLW should be deep underground within a repository. Underground disposal is the favoured option of a number of countries and studies are continuing world wide to develop safe disposal systems. Underground storage or disposal in suitable geological conditions, is seen as an inherently safer option for disposal than long term surface storage. Waste located deep underground is less susceptible to accidental or deliberate damage, but if there were to be some damage, the radioactivity would not be directly released to atmosphere.
