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I don't think its hysterical or fear-mongering to ask nuclear proponents to take into consideration the cost of managing nuclear waste. I don't think its fair

I don't think its hysterical or fear-mongering to ask nuclear proponents to take into consideration the cost of managing nuclear waste. I don't think its fair to draw a line in the sand and declare that those costs are for future generations and don't need to be considered now.

Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago
All the nuclear waste in the world can fit in one are the size of a soccer field. The only real issue are catastrophic failures - and those are usually prevented by improvements in technology and safety protocols.
- jay_kyburz 6y ago
  This is very dismissive and even if true, not really what I'm talking about. I found this article in Scientific American on spent fuel interesting. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-waste-lethal-trash-or-renewable-energy-source/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-waste-let... I think dry casks are dangerous "forever" and therefore the costs of securing and managing them is effectively infinite.
  - Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago
    Ok, if we are talking about 'forever', just put it into the subduction zone of the tectonic plates. In a few million years it'll be deep in the mantle, which is far more hazardous to humans than the disposed nuclear waste.
    - jay_kyburz 6y ago
      Ok sure, how much does that cost? First we need to invent the tech, and find a zone that is stable and won't leak, and we have to be super-duper sure of it, then you need to transport the dry casks there and lower them into the mantle. But the facility still needs armed guards "forever" so that terrorists or rogue states can't go and get some radioactive magma and use it as a weapon.
minikites 6y ago
>I don't think its fair to draw a line in the sand and declare that those costs are for future generations and don't need to be considered now. I agree, but we should balance those costs with the costs of our current actions and the costs of other possible options. Future generations will have to live with the costs of our action or inaction, whichever forms they take.
- jay_kyburz 6y ago
  Yes, I would like to know more about the solar and battery waste products and recycling.

Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago

All the nuclear waste in the world can fit in one are the size of a soccer field. The only real issue are catastrophic failures - and those are usually prevented by improvements in technology and safety protocols.

jay_kyburz 6y ago
This is very dismissive and even if true, not really what I'm talking about. I found this article in Scientific American on spent fuel interesting. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-waste-lethal-trash-or-renewable-energy-source/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-waste-let... I think dry casks are dangerous "forever" and therefore the costs of securing and managing them is effectively infinite.
- Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago
  Ok, if we are talking about 'forever', just put it into the subduction zone of the tectonic plates. In a few million years it'll be deep in the mantle, which is far more hazardous to humans than the disposed nuclear waste.
  - jay_kyburz 6y ago
    Ok sure, how much does that cost? First we need to invent the tech, and find a zone that is stable and won't leak, and we have to be super-duper sure of it, then you need to transport the dry casks there and lower them into the mantle. But the facility still needs armed guards "forever" so that terrorists or rogue states can't go and get some radioactive magma and use it as a weapon.

minikites 6y ago

>I don't think its fair to draw a line in the sand and declare that those costs are for future generations and don't need to be considered now. I agree, but we should balance those costs with the costs of our current actions and the costs of other possible options. Future generations will have to live with the costs of our action or inaction, whichever forms they take.

jay_kyburz 6y ago
Yes, I would like to know more about the solar and battery waste products and recycling.